Vietnamese police have busted what they describe as the largest online gambling ring in the nation’s history following a raid on the Our City residential complex on Saturday.
According to local media reports, more than 500 Hai Phong police officers raided the establishment where they arrested around 380 Chinese nationals found operating an online gambling network. More than 2,000 computers and 500 smart phones were seized.
The suspects are said to have lived inside the building located within Our City – a US$85 million gated community covering 43 hectares.
The Ministry of Public Security later revealed the ring had processed an estimated US$435 million in bets.
While Vietnam has started relaxing gambling restrictions, including the launch of the country’s first casino in which locals can gamble in Phu Quoc earlier this year, online gambling remains illegal with those found to be organizing or partaking facing fines of between US$430 and US$2,200 or jail terms of up to seven years.