China warns football fans not to place bets on the World Cup

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup, set to kick off later this week, authorities in Hong Kong, China, warned about the use of betting platforms.

Sports betting is currently prohibited in mainland China, and the country actively monitors such activities, punishing individuals who consider breaching the established regulations. It is not uncommon for major sports events to attract significant interest, with some fans considering placing bets. That’s also the case for the World Cup, set to start on June 11, 2026. Despite the prohibition on betting in China, betting syndicates easily establish operations and reach many football fans and gamblers alike through social media platforms. However, as announced by the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong police warned football fans to refrain from engaging in betting activities during the World Cup. Police argued that overseas betting platforms may present themselves as registered in certain jurisdictions, but this doesn’t mean that placing wagers with them won’t breach the local regulations. According to the Hong Kong Police Organized Crime and Triad Bureau’s Chief Inspector, Wong Yu-fai, online betting syndicates can easily reach many football fans via social media platforms, which makes combatting such activities challenging when compared to traditional retail bookmaking. Still, he acknowledged that the Hong Kong police are prepared to tackle illegal online sports betting and punish people involved in such activities. Some online gambling websites claim they are legally registered overseas, You-fai said. But anyone gambling on these so-called legal websites in Hong Kong may already have committed the offence of betting with a bookmaker, the Chief Inspector warned. People who engage in sports betting in China can face tough punishment, including significant fines, confiscation of assets and imprisonment. In the case of recreational bettors, sanctions include monetary penalties and imprisonment of up to 3 years. On the other hand, criminal betting syndicates are punished severely with mandatory fines and imprisonment between 5 and 10 years. Besides online sports betting, online casinos and other forms of gambling are also prohibited and the country constantly combats such crimes.