China may have failed to qualify for the World Cup, but its enthusiasm for the frittering away money on it has not been lost, with more than RMB4 billion (US$642 million) being exchanged in online wagers thanks to Internet giants Alibaba and Tencent, report the WSJ.
The two e-commerce stores have bypassed China’s anti-gambling laws, teaming up with provincial lottery agencies that are commissioned by the central government, simultaneously making World Cup betting a breeze via Smartphones and computers.
As of Sunday, Chinese bets on the World Cup totaled four billion yuan ($642 million), close to double the total 2.3 billion yuan in bets during the tournament in 2010, according to China’s state-run lottery regulator.
Cherry Tao, a 30-year-old public-relations worker from Shanghai, said she had never bet in the official lottery until this year, when she purchased a ticket on Alibaba’s Taobao e-commerce site, which promotes the World Cup lottery on its front page.
Taobao, which operates as an e-commerce platform, links users with authorized sports and lottery gambling centers affiliated with the country’s General Administration of Sport.
“Paying via Taobao’s smartphone application is handy and I feel myself more involved in the game,” said Ms. Tao, who has followed soccer for 16 years. She added, “I definitely wouldn’t go line up at a lottery kiosk,” said Ms. Tao.
World Cup fever has extended well beyond questionable gambling with many fans foregoing sleep and at the expense of their lives. A recent update suggests the World Cup fuelled sleep deprivation death toll is nearing double figures. Meanwhile, a Chinese woman committed suicide after her boyfriend stayed out watching a cup game last week.
IAN WALKER COLUMN: Gazza’s second most famous set of World Cup tears
PHOTOS: Beijing Dance Academy student sends World Cup-themed challenge to AV star Sola Aoi
READ: Infographic shows 30,000 Chinese 'Spain fans' ditch them on elimination from World Cup
WATCH: Shanghai artist creates World Cup stars dribbling paint-covered ball on canvas
UPDATE: Non-sleeping Chinese World Cup football fan death toll rises to 8
READ: Chinese fan dies after staying up all night to watch the World Cup
READ: Chinese woman jumps to her death after boyfriend stays out watching World Cup
READ: China to bid for 2022 FIFA World Cup?
READ: Shaheen the Camel set to serve as World Cup oracle
READ: Giant panda cubs denied shot at World Cup psychic glory
PHOTOS: Japanese fans clean their section stadium despite losing 2-1
READ: Chinese football fans buying fake doctors' notes for World Cup
READ: Sven: Hodgson only keeping job because he’s English
READ: Sven-Goran Eriksson wants Frank Lampard to play for Guangzhou R&F
PHOTOS: Shanghai JW Marriott turns Eye of Sauron into football for World Cup
0 User Comments