Hong Kong police arrest 200 after targeting gambling hubs offering e-payments

Hong Kong police have arrested more than 200 people in a crackdown on illegal gambling, with the force warning that operators are attracting patrons with easy e-payment options and all-day free catering.

The force said on Friday that those arrested included 15 property owners, four building tenants and a person holding an account used to receive the e-payments. Officers also seized gambling chips valued at HK$700,000 (US$89,600) and HK$20,000 in cash.

“Operators provided QR codes for gamblers to make online payments, which made the investigation even more difficult,” said Senior Inspector Kwok Man-wai of the New Territories North’s regional anti-triad unit.

He said that all-day free meals were offered to encourage gamblers to stay at the premises longer, with operators even attracting customers from mainland China.

Among the more than 200 arrestees, 21 held two-way permits, which are used by mainlanders to travel to Hong Kong and back, Kwok said.

Police said there had been a resurgence in illegal gambling establishments, which they attributed to property owners renting out their premises for such ventures.

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

Hang Seng Bank CEO buys HK$26.6 million flat as Hong Kong home prices edge higher

The executive director and CEO of Hang Seng Bank has bought a home in Hong Kong’s Tai Hang district, joining a growing coterie of financiers on the hunt for high-value residential property that has helped to drive the city’s lived-in home prices to a five-month high. A lived-in flat measuring 1,193 sq ft (110.8 square

22 August 2025
Top EU envoy in Hong Kong says alleged Russian transshipments a ‘major concern’

Top EU envoy in Hong Kong says alleged Russian transshipments a ‘major concern’

Hong Kong’s alleged transshipment of Western-sanctioned dual-use goods for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine remains a “major concern” for the European Union, the bloc’s top envoy in the city has said. At an event on Friday to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day, Harvey Rouse, the head of the EU office in Hong Kong, said he had

22 August 2025
Liaison office chief in Hong Kong urges city to recount war of resistance ‘well’

Liaison office chief in Hong Kong urges city to recount war of resistance ‘well’

Beijing’s liaison office chief in Hong Kong has called on the city to tell the stories of the war of resistance against Japanese aggression “well” to strengthen young residents’ sense of national identity. Zhou Ji, director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong, also said on Friday that Hongkongers should carry forward the “great spirit”

22 August 2025
Leather goods maker soars 68% after investing US$14 million in tokensation start-up

Leather goods maker soars 68% after investing US$14 million in tokensation start-up

Leather goods manufacturer China International Development Corporation (CIDC) has invested HK$100 million (US$13.9 million) to acquire a 20 per cent stake in Hong Kong-based asset tokenisation start-up NVT, signalling growing enthusiasm for digital assets in the city. The partnership would allow CIDC to use NVT’s tokenisation infrastructure, positioning itself as a “global first mover” in

22 August 2025
Ex-Hong Kong firefighter jailed for 6 years, 3 months for raping friend at hotel

Ex-Hong Kong firefighter jailed for 6 years, 3 months for raping friend at hotel

A former Hong Kong firefighter was sentenced to six years and three months in prison after being found guilty of raping a female friend in a hotel room while she was intoxicated. High Court Judge William Tam Yiu-ho said on Friday that Chan Cheuk-hin, 28, had committed a serious offence that caused the victim to

22 August 2025
Hang Seng Bank’s executive director and CEO Diana Cesar during the bank’s press conference on February 21, 2024. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hang Seng Bank CEO buys HK$26.6 million flat as Hong Kong home prices edge higher

The executive director and CEO of Hang Seng Bank has bought a home in Hong Kong’s Tai Hang district, joining a growing coterie of financiers on the hunt for high-value residential property that has helped to drive the city’s lived-in home prices to a five-month high. A lived-in flat measuring 1,193 sq ft (110.8 square

22 August 2025
Hong Kong lawmakers urge more teacher training to spot serious child abuse cases

Hong Kong lawmakers urge more teacher training to spot serious child abuse cases

Teachers should be given more training to identify serious child abuse cases, Hong Kong lawmakers and a school representative have urged, after education authorities updated guidelines that mandate reporting of suspected incidents from next year. According to an Education Bureau circular issued on Wednesday, educators, social workers, therapists and psychologists working in Hong Kong schools

22 August 2025
Li Ning’s interim profit dips 11% amid tough competition in mainland’s sportswear market

Li Ning’s interim profit dips 11% amid tough competition in mainland’s sportswear market

Chinese sportswear and equipment maker Li Ning posted a drop in interim profit, as weak consumer sentiment weighed on spending and intensifying industry competition squeezed profitability, with management warning of “stronger-than-expected” challenges in the second half. Net profit for the six months to June fell 11 per cent to 1.74 billion yuan US$241.9 million from

22 August 2025