(Photo: ShenzhenNews.com)

Authorities in Southern China’s Guangdong Province detained seven suspects for allegedly running an online World Cup gambling site, confiscating 100 million yuan during an initial raid last week, Xinhua reported.

Residents in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District alerted authorities to the illegal gambling den, claiming their Internet source was being used for gambling connected to the World Cup tournament in Russia. 

Police responded immediately, a special investigative unit was assigned the case. 

After conducting undercover operations, authorities discovered the soccer betting website was registered with an overseas account. For those who want to place a bet, all they have to do was call or go directly to the site, in which the illegal gambling ring operated similarly to a pyramid scheme.

Clients would place their bets based on information the website provided such as ratings, averages, winning and losing streaks, and key players.

A profit was earned by taking a percentage of the money meant to be used for betting. 

Nanshan District police apprehended the suspects in a raid on June 21 confiscating computers, cellphones, and account ledgers.  

“Be aware of the traps, online gambling can be tricky and risky!” the police warned the public. 

A police investigation on the case is still underway.