China Urges Stronger Regional Cooperation Against Gambling

Chinese prosecutors have pledged closer coordination with Southeast Asian counterparts to combat corruption, money laundering and gambling-related crime, warning that new technologies are fueling increasingly complex financial threats. The call was issued by Ying Yong, Prosecutor-General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), ahead of the 15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference, which convenes this week in Hong Kong.

Since its launch in 2004, the annual forum has broadened its scope from addressing transnational drug trafficking and organized crime to tackling cyber fraud, online gambling and asset recovery. This year’s agenda centers on corruption and money laundering in the digital era, with officials highlighting the role of cross-border betting networks in driving illicit financial flows.

Ying warned that “with the rapid evolution of new technologies, such as big data, cloud computing, blockchain and artificial intelligence, money laundering is increasingly witnessing novel methods and becoming more frequent and intertwined with other offences.” He noted that virtual currencies and underground banking channels are increasingly used to move criminal proceeds abroad, complicating enforcement.

Rising Prosecutions

Official data underscores the scale of the challenge. Between January 2024 and June 2025, more than 39,000 individuals were indicted in China for duty-related crimes, including 8,050 cases in high-risk sectors such as finance and energy. Nearly 4,700 prosecutions targeted individuals accused of repeatedly offering large bribes.

Annual prosecutions for money laundering rose by more than 11 percent between 2022 and 2024, according to the SPP. Authorities have also linked illegal betting to violent crimes including kidnappings and homicides. In one prominent case, a Macau-based syndicate generated illicit profits exceeding RMB300 million (US$41 million). Beijing has taken a tough stance on cross-border gambling, with courts imposing life sentences and fines of up to RMB800,000 (US$110,000) in severe cases. The Supreme Court reiterated this year that underground betting syndicates not only drain capital but also fuel violent organized crime.

To strengthen deterrence, the SPP is coordinating with the People’s Bank of China and the Ministry of Public Security on joint campaigns to monitor money flows, share intelligence and issue early-warning alerts. Chinese prosecutors are also engaging in international forums, including the Financial Action Task Force, to contribute to global anti-money laundering standards.

With the rapid evolution of big data, blockchain and artificial intelligence, money laundering is adopting novel methods and becoming more frequent and intertwined with other offences.

Regional Dimension

Ying’s call for deeper cooperation reflects Beijing’s concern that regional gaps in regulation and enforcement are being exploited by criminal syndicates operating across borders. “No single jurisdiction can tackle these challenges alone,” he said, urging prosecutors from China and ASEAN states to expand information-sharing and joint investigations.

Analysts say the emphasis on cross-border collaboration highlights not only the scale of China’s domestic crackdown, but also its recognition that gambling-linked money laundering is an increasingly regional—if not global—security threat.