Taiwanese police have dismantled a major illegal online sports betting network that allegedly handled more than $300 million in wagers linked to the 2026 World Cup.
The operation was uncovered in Tainan, where officers searched a residence and detained eight people.
Although Taiwan did not qualify for the tournament, football interest on the island has still made the World Cup a major target for illegal betting groups.
Eight detained in Tainan
According to Digi24, citing AFP and News.ro, Taiwan’s police announced that they had broken up a significant illegal online sports betting network operating in connection with the 2026 World Cup.
Read also: 2026 World Cup top scorers: Who will win the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot?
The Fourth Police Section in Tainan said officers searched a home on Wednesday and detained eight people.
During the raid, police seized computer equipment, mobile phones, ledgers and cash, according to the report.
The scale of the operation was substantial. Police said the network had taken in almost NT$10 billion, equivalent to around $313 million, from bets placed on World Cup matches.
Foreign nationals among those held
Five of the eight people detained had reportedly travelled from Hong Kong and Macao on tourist visas.
Read also: FC Barcelona returns to La Liga's 1:1 rule, boosting transfer market flexibility
Police believe they came to Taiwan specifically to take part in the World Cup betting operation.
The organisers had also rented a five-storey building for the duration of the tournament, giving the group a dedicated base from which to run the illegal network.
That detail points to a planned and temporary operation built around one of the biggest betting events in global sport.
World Cup betting remains a major risk
Major international tournaments often attract large betting volumes, both through legal operators and underground networks.
Read also: LeBron James' next team revealed? Surprise NBA giants make shock move
For authorities, the World Cup creates a particular challenge because the tournament’s global reach gives illegal betting groups a short but highly profitable window.
The Tainan case shows how quickly such networks can form around the competition, even in countries and territories whose teams are not involved.
The investigation is now expected to continue as police examine the full scale of the operation and whether it had wider international links.
Read also: ‘Spain will be in the semi-finals’, Expert from Denmark predicts
Read also: ‘Jonas needs all the help he can get’, Vingegaard wife goes hard on Visma I Lease-Bike
