China is prepared to work together with the Philippines in addressing the issue of illegal offshore gambling.

The Chinese embassy in Manila announced on Wednesday that China is prepared to collaborate with the Philippines in addressing the issue of illegal offshore gambling in their country.

The embassy of China reported that they assisted Manila in closing down three unlawful gambling areas and bringing back approximately 400 Chinese nationals. They also encouraged the Philippines to implement strict actions in order to combat these types of behaviors.

In 2016, offshore gambling became prevalent in the Philippines and rapidly expanded. This was due to operators taking advantage of the country’s lenient gaming laws to attract Chinese customers, as gambling is prohibited in China.