China has launched a campaign to crack down on illegal lottery
selling on the Internet to fight lottery-related fraud.
Unauthorized lottery websites should stop selling lottery draws
within 30 days or they will be closed down and their owners fined
or prosecuted, said a bulletin posted on the website of Ministry of
Finance.
Four government ministries -- Finance, Public Security, Civil
Affairs, Information Industry -- and the General Administration of
Sport will take part in the campaign.
"Internet-based illegal lottery selling is on the rise in recent
years, posing a threat to the operation of the lottery market," the
bulletin said.
The bulletin listed some of the illegal activities, such as
selling private lotteries under the name of state-run lotteries,
providing illegal channels for sports gambling and underground Mark
Six and lottery-related fraud.
"Except for lottery selling agencies authorized by the
government, no one is allowed to sell lottery tickets through the
Internet," said the bulletin.
The China Welfare Lottery Administrative Center and sports
lottery administrative center of China General Administration of
Sport are the only two legitimate lottery sellers in China and they
are both state-run.
(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2007)