China will conduct a nationwide crackdown on online gambling from February to August, an industry the country's security ministry has described as "thriving."

According to a statement from the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) released Monday, the campaign will target "major and severe cases, arrest domestic and foreign groups that organize online gambling and severely punish criminals."

The campaign will also focus on underground banks and third-party payment platforms that provide banking services for the gambling groups. Website operators offering connection to the services will also be targeted.

Online gambling has caused large amounts of money to flow out of China and disturbed the country's social and economic order, the statement said.

The ministry said illegal online gambling has continued to thrive despite authorities' crackdowns.

The campaign will be jointly carried out by eight party and governmental organizations including the MPS, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the China Banking Regulatory Commission.