China and ASEAN prosecutors step up anti-gambling and money laundering cooperation
The 15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference will focus on joint measures against money laundering, corruption and cross-border gambling.
Key points:
– Prosecutor-General Ying Yong calls for deeper regional cooperation
– Gambling-related money laundering highlighted as a major security threat
– Annual prosecutions for money laundering rose by over 11% from 2022–2024
Chinese prosecutors have pledged to intensify cooperation with Southeast Asian counterparts to tackle corruption, cross-border money laundering and gambling-linked financial crime.
The commitment was announced by Ying Yong, Prosecutor-General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), ahead of the 15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference in Hong Kong.
Since 2004, the conference has expanded its agenda from transnational organised crime and drug trafficking to include cyber fraud, online gambling and asset recovery.
This year’s theme centres on corruption and money laundering in the technological age, both of which are seen as increasingly intertwined with cross-border betting and financial fraud.
Ying said: “With the rapid evolution of new technologies, such as big data, cloud computing, blockchain and artificial intelligence, money laundering is increasingly witnessing novel methods and becoming more frequent and intertwined with other offences.”
He warned that virtual currencies and underground banks are now being used to move illicit funds overseas, complicating enforcement.
Good to know: China has previously imposed life sentences and fines of up to RMB800,000 (US$110,000) for cross-border gambling crimes
Official figures show that between January 2024 and June 2025, more than 39,000 people were indicted in China for duty-related crimes, with 8,050 cases involving sectors such as finance and energy. Of these, 4,698 prosecutions concerned individuals repeatedly offering large bribes. Prosecutors also reported that annual prosecutions for money laundering increased by over 11% during 2022–2024.
Recent crackdowns have linked gambling to other serious offences. In 2025, China’s Supreme Court underscored that illegal cross-border betting syndicates contribute to violent crimes, including kidnappings and even homicides, citing several high-profile cases.
One such case involved a Macau operation generating illicit profits of more than RMB300m (US$41m).
The SPP said it is cooperating with the People’s Bank of China and the Ministry of Public Security on campaigns to monitor money flows, exchange intelligence and issue early warnings. It has also joined discussions at the Financial Action Task Force to contribute to global anti-money laundering standards.
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