Hong Kong - Police in Hong Kong said Friday that 87 people had been arrested as part of an Asian-wide crackdown on illegal football gambling on the Euro 2008 tournament led by Interpol. Betting slips worth nearly 13 million US dollars were seized in a series of raids across the city of 6.9 million in May and June during the Euro 2008 tournament as well as during final games of major international leagues.
The arrests were part of an Interpol-led operation that saw a total of 1,300 people arrested and 1,088 gambling dens busted in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Macau, Vietnam and China, police said.
Gambling is hugely popular in Hong Kong but is legal only through the official Hong Kong Jockey Club which pays substantial tax revenues to the city's government.
Underground football betting syndicates offering more attractive and varied tax-free odds flourish in Hong Kong during major tournaments such as the Euro 2008 and the World Cup.
