According to Odaily, the upcoming month-long European National Cup, a major football event, has caught the attention of online gambling platforms. These platforms are reportedly enticing Hong Kong residents into illegal betting using cryptocurrencies. Data from the Asian Racing Federation reveals that the number of gambling websites accepting the top five cryptocurrencies by global market value - BTC, ETH, Tether, BNB, and Solana - has increased from 648 in 2020 to 811 in 2024, a growth of 25%. Among the 20 most popular illegal gambling websites in Hong Kong, 12 accept cryptocurrency bets.
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong police stated that they would continue to adopt a four-pronged strategy of prevention, education, intelligence, and law enforcement to combat all forms of illegal gambling. In response to the potential illegal peripheral gambling activities during the European National Cup, the police have strengthened intelligence gathering and will take appropriate law enforcement actions when necessary.