"China Goes to War Against All Forms of Gambling"

When compared with the Chinese government, the United States government holds one thing in common. They both claim that Internet gambling is illegal but China is extremely diligent in prosecuting offenders while the United States is very lax.

Not just Internet gambling, but land based brick and mortar casinos are being closed down by China, where efforts are in progress to increase the cleaning away of all forms of gambling. They are going after players with as much intensity as they are pursuing casino operators. The Chinese authorities are basing their case on the existing law, Article 303, and are growing increasingly severe in their enforcement under the article’s provisions. According to Chinese Law Article 303, any person who organizes three or more citizens and receives payments of 5000 yuan (which is equal to about $600, US), or is involved in a game with stakes of over 50,000 yuan (which is about $6000 US) is deemed as being guilty of organized gambling and subject to punishment. They can receive up to three years in prison as well as harsh fines. If one organizes a group of 10 or more Chinese citizens with the intent of gambling, and receives a commission, he is also in violation of Article 303. In the same manner that land based casino operators are being penalized, so Internet online casinos operators can also be penalized. In addition, a person who assists an online casino gambling site in any way is considered as being an accessory to the crime and is therefore subject to the same penalties and punishment as well. Those who are civil servants and who may be involved as operators in some gambling operation or are assisting such an operation, should be doubly wary since it is reported that the harshest penalties will be given to this group.