Vietnam Police Bust Online Gambling Operation Worth $130 Million

Vietnam police have busted an online sports gambling operation worth $130 million and launched a criminal probe into 45 suspects.

The activity was first unearthed by police in the central province of Ha Tinh in May. The gang was found running two online rings with a total of 1566 accounts. One-third of these accounts belonged to betters, while the remaining were admin accounts.

A large-scale investigation was done by police under the Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with police in the five localities of Ha Tinh, Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Ho Chi Minh City.

On May 26, the authorities arrested 11 people, including Le Canh Bao, 43, of Khanh Hoa, believed to be the kingpin of the two rings. He had assigned Pham Hai, 42, and Ho Xuan Dat, 28, to manage the accounts. At the time they were busted, the total value of these transactions was estimated at $130 million.

Of the 45 people being investigated, 29 are gambling organisers and 16 are gamblers.