Someone has to play on Centre, and it's almost always the same players here. This is the reality.
—Rafael Nadal on his rivals getting preferential treatment at Wimbledon
| China steps up its online crackdown |
All Chinese state-run telecom carriers have been ordered to block virtual private networks (VPN) services by February 1, 2018, a move that could drastically affect Chinese netizens and online gamblers.
It is part of the China’s crackdown on “disordered” online activity.
The crackdown began in January where the Chinese government imposed restrictions which made it more difficult for China’s netizens to access content that the government views unkindly (including internationally licensed online gambling sites). As part of the crackdown, unauthorized VPNs were restricted.
Millions will be affected by the VPN blocking.
It is estimated that between 1 to 3 percent of China’s vast internet user base have made use of technologies such as VPN to circumvent Beijing’s online censors. These censors are employed to keep Chinese citizens from: hearing anything other than the official Party line on any given subject; and accessing activities which the government frowns like online gambling.
Why does China hate online gambling so much?
To be fair, China also hate land-based gambling. In March, China’s Public Security Minister vowed to “severely punish” gambling operators – land-based or online – who target mainland residents with gambling come-ons.
There’s also another country that views VPN as a bane to its citizens.
That country is Russia. It might impose its own VPN blocking soon, with new legislation having already enjoyed its first reading in the Duma.
Takeaway
The VPN blocking will directly hit online gambling businesses in China, especially if their patrons can’t wager during the World Cup 2018. The World Cup is the biggest revenue-generating event for Chinese online gambling businesses.
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Hats off to Harrison Gimbel for officially joining the illustrious Triple Crown club after winning a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in Event #68: $3,000 No-Limit Hold’em. He previously won the 2016 World Poker Tour (WPT) Rolling Thunder and a PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) event.
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