Gambling with sharks

Despite sometimes tense relations with China, the Philippines remains a popular destination for Chinese tourists. In the first quarter of this year, over 130,000 Chinese tourists visited, making them the fourth biggest market, according to figures from the Philippines tourism authorities.

One attraction for these travelers is gambling.

It can be a dangerous game. According to a notice issued by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on July 3, several tourists have recently become indebted to local gambling dens, prompting loan sharks or casino workers to detain and torture them.

In response, the MFA notice urged Chinese citizens not to gamble there.

The notice said that casinos attracted Chinese businesspeople to the country via agents on the Chinese mainland. Brokers then offered credit to Chinese visitors to gamble, and when large debts were accrued, they told them to ask their family to pay.

"Gambling is legal in the Philippines. Once detained, it's difficult for them to flee," said the notice.

The masterminds behind the schemes are not necessarily Filipinos however. A network of Chinese agents is also active on the Chinese mainland. They track down customers and offer them the chance to gamble in places such as the Philippines, even if they don't have the money to do so.

Caught in the net

A handful of Chinese citizens involved in gambling problems have asked the embassy for help recently, an official from the Chinese consulate in Laoag, northwestern Philippines, who refused to be named, told the Global Times Tuesday. He also described a story told to the consulate by a Chinese businessman at the end of June.

At first, the middle-aged man visited the consulate on June 27 claiming that he had lost his passport and then the consulate issued him a travel certificate. During the chat, the man changed his story, and said that he had been cheated into handing over his passport.

He said that he had been invited by a businessman surnamed Chen in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, to inspect a tourism business in the Philippines, and that he and another man came to the Philippines on June 14.

Chen told the man he would look after his passport after they touched down in the Philippines. Then the three were led to a casino in Santa Ana, a city famous for gambling. The man said he had no money but Chen offered to lend him some, which ultimately led to his predicament, which didn't include beatings but he was held captive.

When the official attempted to contact the man again however, his mobile phone number was no longer valid. "He might have returned to China," the official said.