Taiwan takes down two more election gambling rings ahead of polls

Two more high stakes gambling operations were busted in Taiwan several days ahead of the country’s presidential polls.

On Wednesday, police raided two underground gambling rings in New Taipei City and Taichung, local media reported. Authorities claimed the gambling operations “took in large wagers on the outcome of the presidential election.”

Among those arrested were 39-year-old Wang Cheng-lung, the alleged proprietor of the New Taipei City operation, and two of his employees. According to Taipei Times, Wang launched gambling website King Sports Net in May last year, and has reportedly raked in more than NT$100 million (US$2.96 million) from bets on sports matches.

New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office spokesperson Feng Cheng told the news outlet that Wang “created betting pools on the presidential election’s outcome, including bids on the final vote tally and the total difference between the presidential candidates.”