Online gambling ring worth $1.3 billion busted

Police in Vietnam have busted an enormous gambling ring that operated through xxx88.com and had hundreds of thousands of customers.

Last week, hundreds of officers from 30 units conducted raids and summoned individuals for questioning in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces, VN Express reported. According to the Ministry of Public Security, 22 people had been arrested for organizing and taking part in gambling.

A foreigner thought to be the ringleader was among the 22 arrested. The ring’s domain xxx88.com drew in thousands of gamblers throughout the country, with transactions valued at more than 30 trillion Dong (US$1.3 billion) carried out through more than 4,000 agencies.

Police added that the server of the website was located outside the country. Gamblers mainly paid via online banking and quick money transfer platforms. Some hired other people to open bank accounts on their behalf to conceal their betting.

While Vietnam has made gambling legal – only for people aged more than 21 with a monthly income of at least 10 million Dong (US$445) – to play at the casino resort in Phu Quoc Island, online gambling remains illegal.