Authorities dismantled a World Cup 2026 betting ring worth over 100 billion VND.

On July 6th, the Gia Lai Provincial Police Investigation Agency announced that it had initiated legal proceedings against 16 individuals for "gambling" in the form of online football betting. The ring operated during the 2026 World Cup season with an estimated total transaction amount exceeding 100 billion VND.

According to the Gia Lai Provincial Police, the individuals charged reside in the following localities: Hoai Nhon ward, Hoai Nhon Bac ward, Tam Quan ward, Phu My commune, Phu My Nam commune, and Tay Son commune.

Initial investigations revealed that, through intelligence gathering, the police discovered a group of individuals organizing football betting through accounts on online gambling websites. On the morning of June 27th, the Criminal Police Department of Gia Lai province, in coordination with other professional units, mobilized 19 task forces to simultaneously conduct urgent searches at 19 locations across various localities.

The police force conducted checks in various areas of Gia Lai province and summoned related individuals to clarify their roles. Seized evidence included 18 mobile phones, 2 laptops, and numerous documents to aid in the investigation.

Initial investigations revealed that the suspects exploited the allure of the 2026 World Cup finals to lure people into gambling. This group divided accounts and granted credit limits using virtual points to players, then converted them into cash for payment. This tactic allowed the suspects to conceal their activities, expand their online gambling network, and reap exceptionally large illicit profits.

The case is being further investigated by the Gia Lai Provincial Police Investigation Agency to clarify the role of each suspect and handle it according to the law.