Chinese nationals' online gambling ring in Laos processed $157 million from Vietnamese players

Vietnamese police have dismantled a significant cross-border online gambling operation run by Chinese nationals in Laos, arresting 53 suspects. The ring, identified as the OKWIN online gambling portal, was uncovered by the Quang Tri Provincial Police's cybersecurity division.

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From the beginning of 2026, the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department of the Quang Tri Provincial Police detected many unusual signs related to the OKWIN online gambling portal system.

Authorities discovered a sophisticated intermediary payment network supporting the gambling platform. Following collaboration with Lao authorities, raids were conducted at two locations in Kaysone Phomvihane city, Savannakhet province. These actions led to the identification of 56 Vietnamese suspects and one Chinese national involved in the operation.

Investigators found that the Chinese criminal group shifted its base of operations to Laos around February 2026, after Cambodia intensified its crackdown on high-tech crimes. In Laos, they established a financial services company named ASM to mask their illicit activities. This company acted as a central hub for processing money between online casinos and players, earning a daily commission of 0.3% to 0.8% of the total transaction volume.

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After Cambodia increased its crackdown on high-tech crime, the group of Chinese leaders organizing the crime moved their operational area to Laos from around February 2026.

The ring recruited Vietnamese citizens to work in Laos under a closed management system. The operation processed an estimated 4 trillion Vietnamese dong (approximately $157 million USD) from Vietnamese players. The arrests and ongoing investigations aim to further dismantle the network and prosecute those involved in illegal online gambling and financial crimes.

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Under the guise of a business, ASM was actually a 'transit station' for money flow between online bookmakers and gamblers.