China shuts down border casinos

Working with police and using diplomatic pressure as a tool, China has managed to shut down some 121 casinos outside its borders, AFP reported. Only 28 casinos remain in operation along the borders with Russia, Myanmar and Vietnam, down from 149 in 2005, state media reported. "We expect the number will continue to drop this year," said Zhang Jun, an official in charge of the gambling crackdown. Some cities along the borders with China have banned Chinese citizens from entering casinos and police have looked to keep gambling funds within the borders as casinos have been seen as a prime channel for embezzled funds and illegal business earnings.