Wednesday, 5 May 2010

Chinese Online Gambling Crackdown Continues

The house of cards has been falling fast for online gaming as one after another jurisdictions have fallen to regulation and restriction. China has long censored internet gaming (and all sorts of other things but this isn't the place for that discussion!). Now Chinese blocking of online gaming has apparently been stepped up as reported by a Chinese Affiliate operator on the GPWA.

This time it's real!! Crackdown is going on. I heard that $18, 000,000 CNY was frozen in the southern China. Ladbrokes delayed all withdrawals too but it says business is as usual.
WangPoker GPWA Member (Emphasis Added)


Whilst operators are still remaining quiet and saying it is business as usual the affiliate also reports several sites no longer accepting deposits and many with substantial cashout delays including Bodog Sports.

If this is a one off gesture like the US attempt to seize funds last year then the impact will likely be short lived with many operators no doubt willing to bear the brunt of these penalties in order to tap the World's largest potential gaming market. However if things continue to worsen and further seizures occur the familiar sight of Chinese players on the biggest Western poker rooms could well be coming to an end just before the 'boom' really took hold there.

Time of course will tell.

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