InfoAnda - Illegal World Cup betting surged in Asia despite risks

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Eight survive plane crash in south India; 158 dead | | 22 May 2010
U.S. Iraq command: no current plans to reopen attack probe | | 8 April 2010
Australian PM extends lead in election race | | 19 July 2010

The struggle to get into Bayreuth Festival | 23 July 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Illegal World Cup betting surged in Asia despite risks

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Asia Pacific World Illegal World Cup betting surged in Asia despite risks AFP - Monday, July 19 Send IM Story Print HONG KONG (AFP) - – Illegal betting on World Cup matches surged across Asia during the month-long tournament even as punters risked arrest, or faced worse at the hands of bookmakers frequently linked to crime syndicates. Police in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and China -- including Hong Kong and the glitzy gambling hub Macau -- arrested more than 5,000 people during the global tournament which wrapped up earlier this month, according to Interpol. The raids, which Interpol helped coordinate, saw local police swoop on more than 800 illegal gambling dens which handled more than 155 million US dollars in bets, the international policing agency said Friday. The operation ran between June 11 and July 11, during a time when hundreds of millions of fans around the globe were glued to their television screens, following the action from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. "The results we have seen are impressive," Jean-Michel Louboutin, Interpol's executive director for police services, said in a statement. "As well as having clear connections to organised crime gangs, illegal soccer gambling is also linked with corruption, money laundering and prostitution." In Malaysia, illegal sports betting was prevalent partly due to easy access to bookies while some syndicates double as loan sharks in providing quick cash, but impose high compounding interest rates, to gamblers. "There are a lot of bookies around, and some are getting as high as 40 percent commission from the bet they collected -- for every 10 dollars bet they collected, they get four dollars in return immediately," Philip Goh, treasurer of the Gamblers Rehab Centre (GRC), told AFP. "The easy access to illegal bookies are making it convenient for people to participate in this illegal activity." Betting of all kinds is hugely popular across Asia with casino revenues in the former Portuguese colony of Macau now having overtaken Las Vegas and industry experts predicting the region will soon eclipse the US gaming market. Illicit gambling remains a problem even in Hong Kong and Singapore where punters can bet legally on football through state-sanctioned operators. Part of the allure for punters may be easier credit terms and better odds, a "hassle-free" scenario where punters are not required to pay the money outright when placing a wager. They pay only when they lose. But failure to cough up money owed to gambling syndicates can bring horrific punishment with police warning that some of Hong Kong's illegal bookies have connections to the city's notorious triads. Punters in the football and horse racing-mad former British colony, which was returned to China in 1997, can bet legally on a variety of sports events including the World Cup through the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The Club handled about 35 billion Hong Kong dollars in legal football bets last year. But police in the southern Chinese territory still arrested hundreds of people and seized betting slips worth about 361 million Hong Kong dollars (46 million US dollars) during the World Cup. That was an almost five-fold increase from the 2006 World Cup when police seized gambling slips worth 74 million Hong Kong dollars. The region-wide raids also netted cars, bank cards, computers and mobile phones. In Malaysia, Mohammad Bakri Zinin, chief of the Criminal Investigation Department said arrest records were being broken. "The number of arrests that we made in this World Cup is a record and it represents a 300 percent increase compared to the number of arrests we made during the European Championships two years ago," he said. In Thailand, the job of catching illegal bookies has become tougher as punters flock to online gambling, said Major General Boonsong Panichattra, who spearheaded Bangkok's crackdown on football betting. In the Thai capital alone, almost 1,800 people were arrested during the tournament, compared to 700 four years ago. But fewer bookies have been arrested because punters preferred to gamble online. Police in India were also struggling to eradicate illegal football betting. "It is not easy to get rid of the menace," said Rajan Bhagat, from the Delhi police. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - 1 hour 26 minutes ago Alicia Keys splits with manager Reuters - 1 hour 26 minutes ago Oscar speculation underway for "Inception" Reuters - 2 hours 26 minutes ago Clifton Collins joins NBC's "The Event" Reuters - Monday, July 19 Hollywood stars lend a hand for diverse charities Reuters - Monday, July 19 News Search Top Stories Philips report big profit on cosumer electronics Boeing, Airbus await orders at Farnborough show Boeing's Dreamliner completes first flight outside US Funding crisis darkens mood at AIDS forum World AIDS conference opens to demo, call for funds More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Paris Hilton caught with cannabis in handbag World pays tribute to Mandela at 92 Boeing's Dreamliner completes first flight outside US Airbus will not cut price to win US tanker bid: EADS Emirates Airline to order over 30 Boeing 777s: report More Most Viewed » Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again Paris Hilton caught with cannabis in handbag Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record Who's right - the dolphin or the octopus? 3 Russian spy suspects due in US court More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Monday, 19 July 2010
Clinton asks Pakistan to do more to combat terrorism
'Strong blow' for Merkel as another ally jumps ship
US-TECH Summary
France rioters arrested for shooting: police
World AIDS conference opens to demo, call for funds
Lebanon's PM Hariri in Syria, focus on economy
Drug hitmen kill 17 at party in Mexico |
Paywall hits The Times online readership: report
Emirates Airline to order over 30 Boeing 777s: report
BP extends tests on oil well structure as cap holds
Iraq suicide bomber kills 45 in strike on anti-Qaeda militia
Mideast leaders queue for talks with Egypt's Mubarak
NATO says soldier killed in Afghan blast
Iranian prosecutor urges Islamic dress checks
Lebanon's PM Hariri in Syria, focus on economy |
Afghan govt wants donors to support its priorities
Two strong quakes strike Papua New Guinea
Fifteen wounded in suicide attack in Pakistan
S.Korea FM dismisses N.Korean overtures
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"Salt" adds flavor to summer movie menu
"Inception" leads box office, "Apprentice" flops
Critically acclaimed 'Inception' awakes box office gold
Merkel completes Asian tour in Kazakhstan
Two million join car-less German autobahn fair: organisers
RIM says Apple claims about BlackBerry unacceptable |
Zsa Zsa Gabor breaks hip in fall, to have surgery |
Salt adds flavor to summer movie menu |
Boeing, Airbus await orders at Farnborough show
States failing to control transport of arms: Amnesty
China on track to aim 2,000 missiles at Taiwan: report |
Boeing's Dreamliner completes first flight outside US
E! co-founder launches celebrity website
Drug hitmen kill 17 at party in Mexico |
Funding crisis darkens mood at AIDS forum
LG aims to up 3D notebook shipments by 30 percent
49 dead as trains collide in India |
Apple goes low-tech to solve iPhone woes
China boomtown migrants sorely underpaid |
Motorola nears unit sale to Nokia Siemens: source
UK to raid dormant bank accounts to fund charity |
Taiwan eyes more US weapons: report
Afghan and NATO forces ready security for Kabul Conference |
US-TECH Summary
Australian PM extends lead in election race |
'20 missing' in China landslide as rains continue
Clinton woos Pakistan with aid package
US carrier to visit S.Korea ahead of joint exercise
Hollywood stars lend a hand for diverse charities
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
LG aims to up 3D notebook shipments by 30 percent
Gong, Lau to star in 'What Women Want' remake
Russian pianist back in Thailand for rape hearing
Motorola nears unit sale to Nokia Siemens: source
N.Korea starts border dam water discharge: S.Korea
20 missing in China landslide: report
Clinton announces major aid projects for Pakistan
Alicia Keys splits with manager
Filipino movie gatecrasher searches for salvation
Oscar speculation underway for "Inception"
Australian PM extends lead in election race
Belgrade: Serb capital the new place to party
LG aims to up 3D notebook shipments by 30 percent |
Clifton Collins joins NBC's "The Event"
Hollywood stars lend a hand for diverse charities
Motorola nears unit sale to Nokia Siemens: source |
Illegal World Cup betting surged in Asia despite risks
E! co-founder launches celebrity website |
Voodoo rite draws Haitian faithful praying for comfort
Hamas bans water pipes for Gaza women
Zsa Zsa Gabor to have surgery after breaking hip in fall
Seoul shares slip; falls limited by China gains
China's Zijin 'ignored warnings' over mine waste water
China's Bright Dairy buys Synlait stake
Beijing home prices rise to '22 times income levels'
PAKISTAN
IMF to boost lending resources: report
Korea Hot Stocks
S.Korea bonds rise on U.S. data;10-yr auction eyed
Seoul shares fall 1 pct after weak U.S. data
NZ services sector growth picks up in June
Oscar speculation underway for Inception |
Alicia Keys splits with manager |
Clifton Collins joins NBC's The Event |
Hollywood stars lend a hand for diverse charities |
Darfur rebels and U.N. to sign deal to protect children
Philips reports six-fold rise in profits
China seals oil port after spill |
Road bombs kill 6 Afghan policemen, 2 US troops
Philips report big profit on consumer electronics
Baidu promotes fake drug sites: Chinese TV station
Moody's downgrades Ireland debt rating
Roadside bomb kills 6 Afghan policemen in south
Afghanistan plans ambitious vision for the future |
US service member killed in Afghanistan
Samsung says no significant smartphone signal complaints
Attack on British security firm in Iraq kills 4 |
Matt Bettencourt captures PGA's Reno Open
Iran calls for world body free of big power control |
Merkel coalition puts brave face on exodus of leaders |
Afghan govt wants donors to support its priorities
L'Oreal heiress to be questioned in French scandal |
US-TECH Summary
Samsung says no significant smartphone signal complaints
U.N. chief hopes for wider freedoms in Cuba |
German court gives al Qaeda helper 6-year jail term |
At least 61 dead in India train crash
Clinton believes Osama bin Laden still in Pakistan
Clinton offers aid and seeks stronger Pakistan ties
Free vote needed in Myanmar: Asian security forum
"Deep concern" over ship sinking: Asian forum
China seals oil port after spill as PetroChina cuts runs
Nokia Siemens buys Motorola network ops for $1.2 billion |
China to build new nuclear power plant: state media
Jobs' offer of free iPhone cases eases Apple PR woes: analysts |
Curry houses in a sweat over new immigration rules
Australian PM leaps ahead in pre-election poll
Apple expands iPad sales to 9 more countries |
Nuance plans voice-activated iPhone apps for UK |
Teenage singer Charice gets Botox for 'Glee' debut
Baidu promotes fake drug sites: Chinese TV station |
Samsung says no significant smartphone signal complaints |
Pakistani stocks end up; rupee flat; o/n rates up
Filipino singer undergoes cosmetic fix for `Glee'
Shanghai Volkswagen boss dies in car accident
Oil prices make subdued start to week
RLPC-MBK kicks off sale of CNS, Gala TV
GM breaks ground on China hi-tech car lab
Inception leads box office, Apprentice flops |
Wesley Snipes loses appeal in tax case |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01