China’s online sports bettors have one less viable option following the bust of a major illegal online gambling operation.

On Thursday, Chinese media reported that the Ningbo City Police in Zhejiang province had disrupted a “large-scale” online betting ring that reportedly handled RMB3b (US$439m) in wagers over an unspecified period.

The police first got word of the ring’s existence following tipoffs received from the public – including some of the ring’s disgruntled customers – in April. The Fengshua Public Security Bureau opened an investigation, leading to simultaneous raids on the ring’s operations in Zhangzhou, Haishu and Fengua in July, during the height of the 2018 FIFA World Cup action.

To date, police have arrested a total of 63 individuals suspected of involvement in the ring, including 14 of the alleged ringleaders, while a further 10 suspects remain at large. The big boss was identified as a man surnamed Dai, although the reports failed to specify whether Dai was among those who remained free.