The lottery industry in China has experienced a six-month decline in revenue, leading officials to pursue alleged criminals.
Data from the Finance Ministry reveals that in November, overall lottery purchases plummeted by 10.2%, reaching 30.6 billion yuan (equivalent to $4.6 billion USD). As per local news sources, sales for welfare and athletic lotteries decreased by 6.6% and 14.4% correspondingly. Experts attribute this downturn to a confluence of elements, including the halt of internet-based sales and a generally weak financial climate.
Further exacerbating the situation, the Ministry of Public Security recently dismantled a large-scale international lottery scheme. The operation, which focused on deceptive online lottery platforms, apprehended 470 individuals. This specific syndicate is suspected of defrauding over 1,000 victims of 200 million yuan (approximately $32 million USD). Authorities shut down three operational centers across China and Laos, confiscating over 500 cell phones, 400 computers, and four vehicles in Laos alone. With the majority of suspects originating from the Fujian province, 300 were extradited under police custody for prosecution. The remaining 170 suspects are being processed by authorities in Xishuangbanna. This bust is part of a broader crackdown – Chinese law enforcement reports uncovering over 16,700 comparable cases, leading to the apprehension of 5,825 individuals and the dismantlement of 927 criminal organizations.
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