Vietnam busts online betting ring, seizes 1.5 tons of gaming gear

Vietnamese authorities have arrested 10 individuals after breaking up a major online gambling ring.

On Monday, local media reported that police in Thanh Hoa province had detained 10 individuals connected to an illegal online football betting ring. Based on data from some of the seized computers, the ring is believed to have handled wagers worth VND 1.4t (US $62m) since the start of this year alone.

Police have yet to confirm whether the ring was associated with any well-known international online gambling operators. Vietnam is preparing to introduce its own system for legal betting on international football matches but continues to struggle to combat international gambling sites who cater to the needs of Vietnamese punters.

The Tuoi Tre news outlet recently profiled Vietnamese gamblers’ growing interest in online cockfighting sites. Punters congregate in local establishments to view the sites, which beam signals from cockfighting dens in Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and other Asia-Pacific jurisdictions.