Macau Police Shut Down World Cup Gambling Ring

Macau police shut down the largest gambling ring in World Cup football history on Friday. The ring generated HK$ 5 billion ($645 million) in illegal gambling profits. The group accepted a single bet of $5.1 million. The Agence France Presse reported the arrest of 22 individuals during the raid. "Records showed that [betting] had reached HK$5 billion. It has already surpassed the biggest betting case in history," Suen Kam-fai, a spokesman for the Macau police commented to a cable television channel in Hong Kong. According to a spokesperson, more than HK$2 million (US$258,029) cash was seized from hotel rooms where the operation appeared to be based. Other items including a computer and other records were also recovered.