Wang Bingang’s criminal syndicate is deeply tied to illegal gambling and money laundering activities across Southeast Asia, with connections to Singapore’s massive anti-money laundering operations.
Wang Bingang, the founder of the Hongli International gambling site, is at the heart of a sprawling criminal investigation tied to Singapore’s ongoing S$2 billion money laundering case. Wang, who built his fortune offering illegal online gambling services, has been linked to a network that spans China, the Philippines, and Cambodia, engaging in illicit activities that have evaded law enforcement for years. His gambling platform, Hongli International, is believed to have generated millions in profits by targeting Chinese gamblers despite online gambling being illegal in China.
Wang, now 34, launched Hongli International in 2012 when he was just 23 years old. Operating from locations such as the Philippines and Cambodia, his online gambling services gained traction quickly, offering games like blackjack, baccarat, and e-sports betting. Hongli was not just a gambling platform; it also created a network where players could promote the site and earn commissions, thereby expanding its reach across Asia. Despite Chinese authorities cracking down on online gambling, Hongli remained operational, a testament to its success in evading the law.
However, Wang’s illicit empire came under scrutiny as his operations grew, especially after incidents like the 2014 bankruptcy of a Hongli gambler, which prompted a series of investigations. Authorities in China and Southeast Asia began to close in on Wang and his associates, and by 2015, he was arrested and repatriated to China after being traced by police to a hotel in Cambodia. This event marked the beginning of a larger crackdown on online gambling syndicates across the region, though the Hongli operation continued to function for years after.
In Singapore, Wang Bingang’s name has surfaced in connection with the massive anti-money laundering raid that occurred on August 15, 2023. The operation targeted individuals and groups suspected of laundering money generated through illegal gambling activities. Among the 10 foreigners arrested in Singapore were people linked to Wang Bingang, including his cousin, Wang Baosen, who is currently facing charges related to money laundering. Singapore’s authorities seized assets worth over S$100 million during this operation, many of which are tied to these gambling activities.
While Wang Bingang himself has not been directly apprehended in Singapore, he and his wife, Wang Liyun, are believed to have been in hiding since the August raid. The couple had been living in a luxurious bungalow in Tanglin, Singapore, where the police found evidence of their wealth, including multiple luxury cars parked outside their residence. Despite the couple’s absence, their domestic helper and others in the neighborhood confirmed that the pair had not been seen for at least a month.
The Hongli International gambling site continues to be a significant player in the illegal gambling world, with links to other criminal groups operating throughout Southeast Asia. In addition to the Hongli syndicate, Singapore’s police are also investigating the Heng Bo Bao Wang group, another gambling syndicate with ties to Cambodia. The operations of these criminal organizations have grown increasingly sophisticated, using technology to evade detection and move illicit funds across borders.
The rise of online gambling, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, has resulted in a surge in illegal gambling operations across China and Southeast Asia. In 2021 alone, China’s Ministry of Public Security reported over 17,000 cases of cross-border gambling, and authorities dismantled over 2,200 illegal gambling platforms. These efforts have significantly disrupted the industry, but as seen with the continued operations of the Hongli platform, illegal gambling remains a persistent problem.
The case involving Wang Bingang highlights the intersection of online gambling, organized crime, and money laundering, with Singapore emerging as a key jurisdiction in the global crackdown on such activities. The ongoing investigations promise to shed light on the scale of these illicit operations and the methods used to launder vast sums of money across borders. As authorities in Singapore, China, and other Southeast Asian nations continue their efforts, it remains to be seen how much of the underground gambling world will be exposed and dismantled in the coming months.
