Major Taiwan Online Gambling Prosecutions

Published: Thursday, April 19, 2007 Online-Casinos.com

MAJOR TAIWAN ONLINE GAMBLING PROSECUTIONS

Police bust what they claim is the country's largest yet online gambling operation

The China Post reported this week on a major online gambling bust by Taiwanese police - this one in the Panchiao District, where prosecutors and police claimed to have uncovered the country's biggest yet online gambling website.

Police officials said the website had recorded total revenues of over NT$1.5 billion over a half a year period, and that some local police officers were involved.

Prosecutors and 120 police officers raided 18 offices and residences of 12 members of the online gambling ring, including Huang Ping-chia, a police officer of the Danshui Precinct in Taipei County, and a criminal investigation policeman, surnamed Liu, of Taipei County, seeking to collect relevant evidence.

Panchiao District prosecutor Lee Chi-hsiang revealed that the online gambling ring was uncovered by officials investigating an illegal labour brokerage case, who unexpectedly found that Huang and Liu were allegedly involved in the operation of an online gambling website.

The revelation triggered a six month long investigation, Lee continued, following which it was decided to launch a large-scale raid of the offices and residences of the 12 suspects in Taipei, Taipei County, and Taichung.

Lee said the 12-member ring solicited members via the website, and then offered members a variety of "betting" choices, including underground futures trading, professional basketball and baseball games in the U.S., Mark Six lottery game in Hong Kong, and five-star lottery in Taiwan, with a minimum stake set at NT$10 000.

The two police officers implicated in the charges allegedly received regular bribes and sex services through the website operators.