Hong Kong Hit by Massive Cyberattacks on Illegal Gambling Sites in April
Hong Kong faced an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks in early April, targeting dozens of online gambling sites. The scale and focus of these attacks made them stand out, with the region becoming the top global target for distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) incidents during the week of April 6â13.
The first attack struck just five days after Chinaâs Public Security Minister vowed 'severe punishment' for gambling operators targeting Chinese citizens. While the source of the assaults remains unclear, US-based cybersecurity firm Arbor Securityâspecialising in DDoS trackingâsuspects extortion as the likely motive.
Online gambling in Hong Kong operates in a legal grey area. The Hong Kong Jockey Club holds the only legal licence, leaving all other sites unregulated and technically illegal. Authorities have previously warned that many of these unlicensed platforms have ties to organized crime. Sports betting sites proved especially vulnerable, given their dependence on live events. Arbor Security noted that the attacks were unusually intense, concentrating solely on Hong Kong-based operators rather than spreading across multiple regions.
The identity of the attackers may never be confirmed. However, the timing and scale of the assaults suggest a deliberate effort to disrupt illegal gambling operations. With authorities already cracking down on the industry, the cyberattacks add another layer of pressure on unlicensed platforms.
