TLDR Vietnamese police dismantled two illegal betting networks worth about $133 million Authorities detained 85 people during raids carried out in late June The operations had been running since at least October Accounts used in the scheme were traced back to Cambodia Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security broke up 73 gambling operations and arrested 346 people in 20 days
Vietnamese authorities have taken down two illegal betting operations that processed roughly $133 million in wagers. The announcement came from police in Ho Chi Minh City.
Officers detained 85 people connected to the networks. The raids took place in coordinated actions during late June.
Investigators described the operations as organized with strict internal structures. These structures were used to manage large volumes of bets while keeping oversight of participants.
The two networks had reportedly been active since at least October. Over that period, they are believed to have handled about $133 million in transactions.
How the Betting Network Operated
Investigators traced the betting systems back to accounts that originated in Cambodia. Ring organizers obtained these accounts as a starting point for the operation.
The accounts were then broken down into layers. This created a chain of agents and smaller sub-accounts.
Those sub-accounts were distributed to individual gamblers through online channels. This structure allowed the network to spread activity across many users while staying harder to trace.
Wider Crackdown During the World Cup
Online gambling remains illegal in Vietnam. Despite this, betting syndicates continue to operate, and they tend to grow more active around major sporting events.
The current World Cup has led to a broader nationwide crackdown. Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security said last week that officers broke up 73 separate gambling operations in the tournament’s first 20 days.
Authorities arrested 346 people during that period. The arrests