China and Vietnam have earned more results in their war against unauthorized online betting on the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Over the weekend, Chinese state-run media reported that police in the capital Beijing had arrested 46 individuals connected with an illegal betting operation that handled RMB320m (US$48m) worth of World Cup wagers.

The media reports indicated that the gambling ring used social media channels such as WeChat to promote the day’s betting odds. The ringleaders wagered the sums with unspecified internationally licensed betting sites, while local agents collected losses and distributed winnings.

In an attempt to suppress World Cup betting interest, Beijing authorities issued warnings to its citizens claiming that 95% of operators promoting themselves as online betting sites are actually engaged in phishing operations aimed at stealing individuals’ private financial data.