Local police have reached an agreement with peers in Malaysia, Singapore, Guangdong and Macao to launch a massive crackdown on illegal soccer betting during the FIFA World Cup in Germany.

This is the first time the police in these regions have reached such an understanding in combating illegal bookmaking. In the past, operation on soccer gambling had been limited to exchanging intelligence.

Speaking about the deal at a press conference yesterday, Chief Superintendent of Police's Organized Crime and Triad Bureau Choy Kin-cheung said the police from Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom and some more Asian countries might also join the operation.

"We've been liaising with these countries closely, and are optimistic that we'll reach similar agreement," Choy said.

As the 2006 FIFA World Cup was about to start in a week, Choy urged the public not to place bet with any bodies other than Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) for HKJC was the only legal organization to take bets in the city.

He expressed special concern about the online betting where local residents placed bets with syndicates whose servers were outside Hong Kong. This would breach the city's laws even though it might be legal in the places where the servers were located, he said.

"The maximum penalty is HK$30,000 as fine and nine months in jail," Choy said about betting with syndicates other than HKJC. People guilty of accepting bets will face a higher penalty - up to HK$5 million as fine and seven years in prison.

Help of ISPs

He confirmed reports that the police would seek cooperation from Internet services providers (ISPs). Allaying fears of privacy intrusion, he said that the police would not move without going to the court for a warrant.

In recent civil cases involving suspected copyright infringement, copyright owners of movies and music have succeeded repeatedly in winning court orders to require ISPs to release details of IP addresses suspected of infringement.

"As always in our investigation, we will go to the court to apply for a warrant after a suspect is identified," he said.

Choy said that by taking concerted actions in Hong Kong and places where the servers were located, they had a better chance of protecting evidence from being destroyed by underground bookmakers and referring to the evidence in prosecution.

Choy, however, declined to comment on how rife betting soccer online had become, saying it was difficult for them to estimate given the crime's covert nature.

With World Cup soccer just a week away, he did not rule out the possibility of more illegal bookmakers working in different levels. But there has been no evidence about the bookmakers' surge, he added.

"It's possible that they operate from Macao today, Taiwan tomorrow and the Chinese mainland the next day. It's hard to find out," Choy said.

He, however, believed illegal soccer betting had "somehow" abated since soccer betting was regularized in August 2003. He cited betting figures placed with HKJC having increased HK$9.6 billion in 2003/04 to HK$24.7 billion in 2004/05. The figure - which is still under audit - is estimated to rise to HK$27.4 billion in 2005/06.

Figures given to lawmakers show that police made 233 raids on soccer betting and netted equivalents of HK$161.5 million in betting money.

In 2002 , police raided 70 times and seized betting records totalling HK$57 million. The numbers decreased to 53 raids and HK$36 million in 2003; 42 raids, HK$21 million in 2004; 24 raids, HK$27.5 million in 2005.

Choy said that they were adopting a four-pronged approach ahead of the World Cup: prevention, education, intelligence and enforcement.

On prevention and education, special squads of police liaison officers have visited a number of schools to remind students not to gamble. Leaflets and publicity materials are also being distributed to customers and owners of bars and entertainment places.
Choy said police would intensify patrol in these places during the period. They have set up a hotline 2860 8366 for reports of suspected illegal soccer betting.

Editor: Yan