The Chinese embassy in Singapore urged its citizens in the city-state to stay away from all forms of betting, saying gambling overseas violates Chinese laws.
The warning comes as Beijing intensifies its efforts to crack down on Chinese citizens gambling across South-East Asia, a popular tourist destination.
In a statement, the embassy “solemnly reminded” the majority of Chinese in Singapore to enhance their legal awareness and stay away from gambling, adding that embassies and consulates may not be able to provide consular protection for violations.
Singapore is home to two casinos, one operated by Las Vegas Sands and the other Genting Singapore.
China has been intensifying its crack down on cross-border, off-shore and online gambling, sending similar warnings to several countries as it tries to curb these illegal activities and threats to citizens abroad.
“Cross-border gambling may also bring risks such as fraud, money laundering, kidnapping, detention, trafficking, and smuggling,” the Chinese embassy in Singapore said yesterday.
The Chinese embassies in South Korea and Sri Lanka also issued similar warnings recently.
On Feb 22, law enforcement agencies in China and the Philippines cooperated to repatriate more than 40 Chinese nationals engaged in offshore gambling, according to a statement from the Chinese embassy in the Philippines.
The Chinese embassy in Singapore launched a reporting platform to combat cross-border and online gambling, emphasising its firm stance against gambling.
Chinese citizens can use this platform to report suspected gambling activities. — Reuters
