<p>Vietnamese police have smashed a huge online betting ring worth around $1.2 billion, state media and an official said Wednesday, as the government cracks down on illegal gambling during the World Cup.</p>.<p>Twelve people have been arrested across southern Vietnam, including in the business capital Ho Chi Minh City, a police source in Hanoi told <em>AFP</em>. The server for the gambling website was based in Cambodia.</p>.<p>"The raid was part of a central effort to curb illegal gambling, especially when the World Cup is on," the source said.</p>.<p>Vietnam's communist government has started loosening its grip on domestic gambling, allowing Vietnamese to bet in casinos and opening up some sports betting.</p>.<p>Online gambling remains banned but lucrative illegal operations have mushroomed, prompting the crackdown during the World Cup period and ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year festival.</p>.<p>According to state media, the newly uncovered gambling ring was formed at the start of 2021 and included online football betting for clients mostly in southern Vietnam.</p>.<p>Gamblers deposited cash into banks in exchange for virtual currency or handed over cash to agents within the network.</p>.<p>On Monday, police in central Nghe An province also arrested 11 people on similar accusations in a separate ring.</p>.<p>The arrests come after Vietnamese police uncovered a cryptocurrency ring worth around $3.8 billion last year.</p>.<p>The ministry of public security warned the public earlier this month not to fall into "illegal traps", while also vowing harsh punishment for organisers of betting rings.</p>
<p>Vietnamese police have smashed a huge online betting ring worth around $1.2 billion, state media and an official said Wednesday, as the government cracks down on illegal gambling during the World Cup.</p>.<p>Twelve people have been arrested across southern Vietnam, including in the business capital Ho Chi Minh City, a police source in Hanoi told <em>AFP</em>. The server for the gambling website was based in Cambodia.</p>.<p>"The raid was part of a central effort to curb illegal gambling, especially when the World Cup is on," the source said.</p>.<p>Vietnam's communist government has started loosening its grip on domestic gambling, allowing Vietnamese to bet in casinos and opening up some sports betting.</p>.<p>Online gambling remains banned but lucrative illegal operations have mushroomed, prompting the crackdown during the World Cup period and ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year festival.</p>.<p>According to state media, the newly uncovered gambling ring was formed at the start of 2021 and included online football betting for clients mostly in southern Vietnam.</p>.<p>Gamblers deposited cash into banks in exchange for virtual currency or handed over cash to agents within the network.</p>.<p>On Monday, police in central Nghe An province also arrested 11 people on similar accusations in a separate ring.</p>.<p>The arrests come after Vietnamese police uncovered a cryptocurrency ring worth around $3.8 billion last year.</p>.<p>The ministry of public security warned the public earlier this month not to fall into "illegal traps", while also vowing harsh punishment for organisers of betting rings.</p>