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Hong Kong police arrest 78 in illegal gambling crackdown
The arrests include a syndicate accused of running live betting via illegal gambling websites at the Happy Valley racecourse since 2025.
Hong Kong police have arrested 78 people, including the youngest aged 16, in a crackdown on illegal gambling and related alleged offenses, after enforcement operations between July 7 and Monday, according to SCMP Economy.
The police said 42 men and 36 women, aged between 16 and 68, were taken into custody, including some with triad backgrounds, and the suspects were accused of operating unlawful gambling establishments, illegal bookmaking, betting, and criminal intimidation.
One operation targeted a criminal syndicate involved in illegal horse racing gambling at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Happy Valley racecourse, the outlet reported. Hong Kong’s government authorizes the club as the only operator to provide horse racing and football betting services.
Officers arrested seven men, including a local resident and six mainland Chinese residents, at the racecourse on July 8 on suspicion of illegal bookmaking and betting. SCMP Economy reported police found the syndicate had reserved remote spots in the public gallery and carried out illegal gambling on race days since 2025, using mobile phones to place live bets through illegal gambling websites.