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Within the past month, several countries have taken huge steps towards ridding themselves of illegal online gambling operations. The sudden crackdown was inspired by the negative side effects of such operations.
Officials in Malaysia, which shut down a major gambling ring in December, believe that illegal gambling has created a plethora of social issues within their country. Country officials also say that illegal gambling has grown massively over the past year.
Company overview Jiu Zhou Technologies International, Inc. A business process outsourcing 'BPO' and marketing company that provides management support services, back office, IT, and customer-support specializing with interactive online gaming companies. JiuZhou is a growing firm in the industry and aim to lead in the future. Taiwanese police also closed down the Jiu Zhou online casino, which, Taiwanese lottery retailers complained, had an unfair advantage over state-run iGaming companies. A big motivation for the raid was to prevent any influencing of the “outcome of elections” prior to January 16th. A man whose brothel has been repeatedly investigated for trafficking Asian women was a Crown Casino high roller agent. Brothel owner and alleged money launderer is Crown casino's business partner.
Common criminal activities associated with illegal gambling operations that doesn’t accompany legal online gambling sites include money laundering, gang activity, drugs, and human trafficking.
Malaysia and Taiwan shut down major online gambling operations
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Both Malaysia and Taiwan have hit illegal gambling operations hard. A mid-December Malaysian raid produced 112 arrests and seized a large quantity of computer equipment and several thousand dollars.
During a press conference, Seri Alam Police Assistant Commander Abdul Samad Sellah informed the public about the raids:
“The workers and gamblers detained, aged between 19 years and 63 years old, are being investigated under Section 4B(a) of the Common Gambling Act 1953.”
To deal with the illegal gambling problem, Malaysia created the Special Task Force for Anti-Vice, Gaming and Gangsterism, or STAGG. It is a federal police unit with 200 members which will specifically target these problematic operations. Within the past year over 20,000 arrests have been made during raids in Malaysia.
The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission took steps to block more than 300 online gambling websites after they were alerted of the illegal operations. The law justifying these raids is the Prevention of Crime Act, a 1953 bill that originally targeted individuals illegally open carrying weapons. Legislation has begun to amend Malaysian law to cater more towards illegal online gambling.
On January 5, Taiwanese police raided 55 illegal online gambling locations across Taiwan. Three hundred Taiwanese policemen were involved in shutting down the locations which were operating as Jiu Zhou Casino. These locations offered online gaming to patrons via computers running software by Jiu Zhou Technologies International, which is licensed in the Philippines.
The extent of the link between the illegally operating locations and the software provider is as of yet somewhat unclear. Taiwanese legal lottery retailers commonly use lottery software from Jiu Zhou Technologies.
The raid puts an end to what Taiwanese police believe is the largest online gambling ring in the country’s history. Alleged ring leader Kao Hung-yu and 52 other suspects were arrested for their involvement, and over NT$2 billion (about $60.5m USD) in bets were seized.
Lithuania vows to avoid a similar situation
Earlier this January, the Lithuanian Gaming Control Authority announced several major changes to the country’s online gambling laws. Gaming Control Authority director Virginijus Dauksys also publicly expressed that he will be more active in the pursuit of illegal operations, vowing to prosecute anyone involved with them.
The main changes involve Lithuanian banking regulations. The Gaming Control Authority will now be able to take action against banks who knowingly process transactions between illegal operations and their customers. This is a similar approach to federal laws in the United States.
The Authority is also now able to force networks, service providers, and hosting services to block user access to illegal online gambling. The government adopted these regulations in hopes of deterring online gambling companies from continuing their operations.
Illegal online gambling is a global problem for a reason: without the safeguards put in place at legal online gambling sites, consumers will always be at risk.
Rhode Island State Police recently busted a large gambling ring in their state, and a former Boston Red Sox pitching prospect was among those arrested.
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Chris Costantino, 24, who was drafted by the Red Sox in 2009, was among the 17 people arrested. Sean Furney, 24, who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013, was also arrested in the sting. Both former baseball players are facing organized criminal gambling and conspiracy charges.
According to Boston.com, the arrests come after an eight-month investigation by federal, state and local authorities.
The investigation concluded that 17 men from the Rhode Island towns of Cranston, Warwick, Scituate, North Providence, Narragansett and South Kingstown were involved in the online gambling ring.
Police also believe that the ring sold drugs and committed other offenses along with the gambling ring.
Timothy Moretti, a 46-year-old from Cranston, is believed to have run the organized criminal operation. Moretti is a former prison guard and known mob member who has a history of drug and illegal gambling charges. He now faces additional charges for bookmaking, organized criminal gambling, conspiracy and violating probation.
The Rhode Island Attorney General’s office has confirmed that all 17 suspects were arraigned in district court last week. However, the attorney general’s office and state police are refusing to comment any further until the ongoing investigation has been concluded.
This is the second big online gambling ring that’s been busted in 2016. Back in January, Taiwanese authorities raided 55 locations across the country and arrested 53 people. The internet gambling ring collected collected NT$2 billion (US$60.5 million) in bets before the police raid.
Taiwanese police also closed down the Jiu Zhou online casino, which, Taiwanese lottery retailers complained, had an unfair advantage over state-run iGaming companies.
A big motivation for the raid was to prevent any influencing of the “outcome of elections” prior to January 16th. The operation’s ringleader, Kao Hung-yu, admitted to taking bets, but he denied offering wagers on elections.
Taiwan traditionally frowns on gambling outside of their state-run lottery operation. However, they passed legislation in 2009 that will allow for casinos to be built on the islands of Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu.