China Cracks Down on Illegal Online Gambling

Chinese authorities have been getting tough on internet activities, that are considered inappropriate for their citizens. Now the government in China is stepping up it’s efforts to keep the firewalls strong.

Chinese authorities are concerned that there is corruption gaining influence in the country’s football leagues. Claiming that game fixing is ruining the games competition in the nation, the official word is that it is the fault of online gambling and the growth of illegal internet casinos that is causing the problem. Players are tempted by the large money available if they co-operate with illegal sports gambling operators by playing at less than their top levels or deliberately throwing matches.

The Ministry of Public Security is launching a national effort to end illegal football gambling, and severely punish players who get involved with illegal gambling operators. The Great Firewall, as it is known in China tries to prevent online gambling, as well as other web content thought to be inappropriate by China’s current government.

Economic conditions and the low pay for players on lesser-known teams makes them an easy target for criminal gambling action. Chinese authorities assert that gambling, and not the country's economy, is the reasoning for the illegal and harmful match fixing. The Ministry of Public Security has arrested several well-known players, such as Leng Bo of the Shandong team, for influencing young players to sell their teams out and take the money for themselves. He is a retired player who was looked upon by the youthful team players as a good influence. Wang Po, the former general manager of Shaanxi Guoli, was arrested after details of a plan to influence and derail games came to the attention of officials. Sports betting at online casinos was said to be responsible for the match fixing episodes by Chinese authorities.