FIFA World Cup betting sparks new gambling crackdown in China
Chinese police have launched a nationwide crackdown on illegal World Cup betting networks as FIFA fever reportedly sweeps the country. The authorities have issued a warning that unlicenced gambling operators are exploiting the tournament’s popularity to attract thousands of bettors.
The latest enforcement action comes at a time when betting activity has surged across China. While legal sports lottery sales have reached record levels during the FIFA World Cup, police say illegal gambling syndicates are also expanding rapidly by offering unlicenced betting platforms with promises of higher odds and guaranteed returns.
Multiple operations carried out
As reported by Xiaoxiang Morning Post, one of the largest recent operations took place in Jiande, Hangzhou Province, where police dismantled a cross-border gambling network targeting football fans. Authorities seized around $148,000 in illegal customer deposits after using digital forensic tools to track the suspects before carrying out a 12-hour surveillance operation and raiding the premises.
Eight people were arrested during the operation. Police said the group allegedly attracted users by advertising unusually competitive odds and guaranteeing profits to customers, while operating through a sophisticated and highly secretive network. Three suspected organisers remain in pretrial detention, while the remaining suspects received administrative penalties. Investigators believe additional people may still be involved and say the case remains active.
A similar operation was also carried out in Jiangyou, Sichuan Province, where four suspects were arrested for allegedly running another illegal World Cup betting website. Officers seized more than 300,000 yuan (around $44,000) and said the group promoted betting links through WeChat chat groups and other social media platforms. Investigators also found that temporary payment channels and frequently changing online accounts were used to avoid detection.
Police have conducted similar raids in Guangxi Province and Xi’an in recent weeks as part of a broader campaign targeting illegal gambling during the tournament.
Chinese sports lottery booms
The crackdown comes as football betting has reached exceptional levels across China’s legal lottery market. According to the China Sports Lottery, football lottery sales totalled 6.87 billion yuan (around $956 million) between 8 and 14 June, representing a 97 per cent increase compared to the previous week.
Lottery retailers across the country have also reported a sharp rise in customer activity. Many betting shops have seen football fans queue after work to place wagers on match results, scorelines, total goals and handicap markets. Some outlets have reportedly generated daily sales of up to 100,000 yuan (about $13,900), while several operators have expanded by opening additional stores or creating dedicated World Cup viewing areas.
China’s state-run sports lottery remains one of the country’s only legal avenues for football betting, with ticket sales helping fund sports programmes and public welfare initiatives. Official figures show total lottery sales reached 627.97 billion yuan (around $87.3 billion) in 2025, of which 419.39 billion yuan (around $58.3 billion) came from sports lottery products.
At the same time, police are reminding football fans to avoid unlicensed betting platforms. Officials say many illegal operators tempt users with claims of guaranteed profits and better odds, only to expose them to scams and other criminal activity. With World Cup excitement still driving heavy betting interest, authorities say their crackdown on illegal gambling networks will remain a priority throughout the tournament.
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