Published
Legal & Regulatory

The Philippines detains 1200 Chinese citizens accused of running illegal gambling operation

A na

Duterte
tion-wide crackdown on online gambling in the Philippines has led to the detention of more than a thousand Chinese nationals, raising concerns from China’s Foreign Ministry and potentially straining ties between the two countries.

1200 Chinese workers were operating in call center-like facilities in former U.S. air base, Clark Field, where the Philippines immigration bureau believed an online gambling operation was being run.

Many of the Chinese nationals are thought to be working in the Philippines illegally.

Gen Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said: “China expresses concern over the large number of Chinese citizens detained by the Philippines.” But also noted that China had requested the Philippines make arrangements for those who had been detained and to release those with legal identification.

It’s unknown if the Chinese nationals are being held for gambling or immigration violations. Gambling is legal in the country but only if permitting and zoning regulations are followed.

China has supported the Philippines' other law enforcement efforts, including President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign, which has drawn wide-spread condemnation from Western countries over extrajudicial killings.

Duterte has made efforts prior to this incident to improve historically strained ties with China, which have been plagued by territorial disputes in the South China Sea, making this a surprising move by the Philippines.

Premium+ Connections
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium Connections
Executive Profiles
Wynn Macau
MGM Resorts Japan
BetConstruct
Bloomberry Resorts Corporation
Sightline Payments

Global Gaming Awards Asia: What to expect in 2023

Gambling Insider looks ahead to the Global Gaming Awards Asi...

The power of the rebrand

With the help of industry experts, Gambling Insider Editor T...

Evolution Europe CEO Gionata La Torre: The Italian job

Evolution Group’s new CEO Europe, sits down with Gambling...

Big Question: How can slots innovate from here?

Simon Hammon, CEO of Relax Gaming, Erkki Nikunen, Partner &...

Read Magazine

30 March, 2023

Wilfred Wong: Macau “cannot just rely on gaming”

Sands China’s President and Executive Director, Wilfred Wong, has echoed earlier calls by the Chinese Government to diversify the gambling province of Macau.