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The Chinese government has executed 11 members of the Ming family crime syndicate. This comes after investigations into the criminal empire uncovered “intentional homicide, intentional injury, illegal detention, fraud, and operating gambling dens”, as well as other penalties.
In the announcement, which has been translated, the Supreme People’s Court has confirmed that the group, led by Ming Guoping and Ming Zhenzhen, working alongside the “telecommunications fraud syndicate” led by other members, had conspired or committed various crimes.
These crimes are described as “exceptionally heinous” in nature, which have been met with the “severe” punishment. That had been determined to be execution, which Ming Guoping, Ming Zhenzhen, Zhou Weichang, Wu Hongming, Wu Senlong, Fu Yubin, among others, will be or have already been subjected to.
The press release provides limited detail on the gambling operations linked to the Ming family crime syndicate. While illegal gambling is listed among the crimes, the announcement focuses primarily on violent offenses and large-scale telecommunications fraud.
China executes Ming gambling crime syndicate amid wider crackdown
Separate from this case, Chinese authorities have in recent years extradited several individuals accused of operating overseas gambling networks, among them She Zhijiang, who was returned from Thailand, and Chen Zhi, who had been based in Cambodia. These extraditions were part of broader law-enforcement efforts against cross-border gambling and scam operations, rather than specific details addressed in the Ming family verdict.
A Chinese court sentencing 11 people to death for running a family-run criminal empire in Myanmar and for killing workers who tried to escape in Zhejiang, China on September 29, 2025. Credit: The People’s Courts News and Communication Agency, China
However, they did operate gambling dens in their crime operations out of Myanmar. Scams became the focus of the Ming family; it got its start in the region through gambling and prostitution.
As things began to spiral, the syndicate began to move into other, more illegal areas.
Using the region’s lawlessness as it goes through a civil war, it has managed to benefit massively and transform Laukkaing into a casino town.
They operated the Crouching Tiger Villa, which was part of the unfortunate incident in 2023, where Chinese citizens within the compound were shot and killed while trying to escape. The location was used in the forced labour side of the Ming’s business.
With the area of Myanmar now under the control of local militia, they began to crack down on the local crime families.
Images via Chinese Ministry of Public Security, CCTV
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The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) has confirmed a woman has been arrested on alleged charges of ‘Keeping and Maintaining a Gambling House and Possession of Slot Machines.’
Taylor Swim, 28, was taken into custody on Wednesday (January 28), and has been booked into the Sarasota County Correctional Facility. The arrest is said to have taken place by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Intelligence Unit, Tactical Unit, Special Investigations Section, Patrol Bureau in cooperation with the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC).
“The arrest followed a months-long investigation into several illegal gambling operations in Sarasota County resulting in a search warrant for the “41 Social Club,” an announcement from the sheriff’s office alleges.
During the warrant, a total of 66 slot machines, along with U.S. currency, were seized from the business. It has also been said that additional evidence located included a cease and desist letter from SCSO that was provided to the business in April 2025.
Dozens of slot machines inside the 41 Social Club. Credit: Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office
“We will continue our partnership with FGCC focusing on the same goal of shutting down these illegal gambling businesses in our community. To our citizens, we hear you, and we will continue to hold them accountable,” said Sheriff Hoffman. The investigation remains ongoing.
Swim was taken into the Sarasota County Correctional Facility on charges of running a gambling house and possessing slot machines.
Sarasota Sheriff’s Department recently arrested two on allegedly running an illegal gambling house
This comes just a month after the Sarasota Sheriff’s Department also announced it had arrested two women with allegedly running an illegal gambling house in the city. The arrests took place in December.
At the time, a search warrant had been executed in collaboration with the Florida Gaming Control Commission, with 81 slot machines said to have been found at the arcade. These were then seized by Commission agents, along with the cash inside of them.
Within the announcement, the sheriff’s office noted the arcade had been served with a cease and desist letter earlier on in the year.
Featured Image: Via Sarasota County Correctional Facility
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A class action lawsuit has been filed in Alabama against Kalshi over what the plaintiffs claim is an illegal sports wagering website. Alabama is notoriously strict with its gambling laws, with it outright banned in most cases.
In this case, traditional sports betting is not permitted under state law. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket operate by offering event-based contracts that are classified as trading activity rather than sports wagering. Because these products fall under federal commodities regulation, they are overseen by the CFTC instead of state gambling authorities, even though their structure and terminology may resemble aspects of betting.

NEW: Kalshi has been hit with a class action lawsuit in Alabama federal court for operating an illegal sports betting website. (AL has among the strictest anti-gambling laws in the US; more than 40 sweepstakes casino lawsuits already filed). This is the 1st PM case filed in AL. pic.twitter.com/lxR6hJSkpS
— Daniel Wallach (@WALLACHLEGAL) January 30, 2026

However, there might now be a new issue in the way of the class action lawsuit. In a new set of remarks by the CFTC Chairman, Michael S. Selig, indicates that the government body would now assist markets with legal problems in the country.
The move has been celebrated by the Coalition for Prediction Markets as well.
This marks the first time a case like this has been filed in Alabama, which sports betting lawyer Daniel Wallach points out is particularly litigious in the gambling scene. More than 40 lawsuits regarding sweepstakes casinos have been filed in the state, which again has a firm grip on banning most forms of gambling.
Kalshi in the firing line amid battle against prediction markets
Kalshi has come under fire from other sources across the country in recent months, as it pushes into sports betting. Under the guise of “sports contracts,” prediction markets have managed to infiltrate heavily controlled states regardless of the laws.
Washington banned prediction markets in December over similar concerns. Nevada has also stripped DraftKings and Flutter of their licenses to operate, as they drift further towards prediction markets.
Alabama has been cracking down heavily in 2025 on regular gambling, with multiple arrests over machines or illicit methods. It’s looking more and more likely that prediction markets could be getting the boot unless the CFTC enters the fray.
Featured image: Wikicommons
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The payments platform Paysafe suggests the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a key moment for North America, as it says 60% of consumers plan to place bets online or via an app, with 19% planning to bet for the first time.
This year will see the significant sporting event return to U.S. soil for the first time since 1994, with Canada and Mexico being co-hosts. However, since its last foray in the United States, the World Cup is now being hosted at a time when sports betting is legal in many states.
According to the report, 64% of bettors will place wagers on the day of the game or during the match and 37% plan to bet more than usual. In the US, this figure reaches 51%.
Six in ten consumers plan to bet online or via an app during the World Cup. Credit: Paysafe
The survey has included 3,850 respondents, all of legal gambling age, who have an interest in following the upcoming soccer event, based across the UK, US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and Bulgaria.
While the event is in-person, the research suggests there could be a ripple effect as 58% plan to play soccer-themed video games during the tournament. At the same time, 56% of the participants expect to spend more on downloadable content, especially in the United States and United Kingdom.
49% of consumers who don’t follow soccer plan on betting on the World Cup, research states
The frequency of betting is also expected to increase during the tournament: “Among those planning to bet, 92% expect to wager either more than usual or about the same as their typical activity. Within this group, 37% plan to bet more than normal, with the United States leading at 51%. These figures reflect the unique excitement of the World Cup and how hosting influences betting activity.”
It’s thought that social factors could influence the amount bet too, with 60% of respondents saying they would join a group bet if a bet pool or pot was organized by a friend or coworker.
The match schedule will see games take place in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, and the final will be in New York New Jersey.
Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram
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