On Wednesday and Thursday, the Hong Kong police detained a total of 42 people for allegedly running an illegal online gambling platform that had been operational since March 2022. It is believed that the criminal organization received wagers through the platform on average totaling more than HKD26 million (US$3.3 million) per month.

Superintendent Dicken Ko Tik of the cyber security and technology crime unit of the Hong Kong police gave a briefing on the information to the local media.

From October 2022 to July of this year, the alleged criminal organization is also thought to have "laundered" close to HKD300 million through a number of "stooge bank accounts," Mr. Ko stated during the briefing.

On the platform, bets could be placed using cryptocurrencies or Hong Kong's faster payment system (FPS) for fund transfers. There were baccarat, blackjack, slot machines, and sportsbooks available.

According to Mr. Ko, gamblers may also receive bonuses or a "commission" if they refer friends to the platform.

According to the police, the server hosting the online gambling platform was located "offshore" to avoid being discovered. Both a website and a mobile application were used to access the platform.
There were seven active units in Hong Kong belonging to the alleged criminal organization that ran the platform. According to Hong Kong police, each was assigned a specific task, such as managing customer services or offering tech support.