The Chinese embassy in Singapore has issued an advisory to its citizens, advising against engaging in gambling activities within the sovereign state’s casinos. The advisory, reported by Reuters, highlights the potential legal implications under Chinese law for such actions.

In the statement released on Monday, the embassy explicitly reminded citizens against participating in gambling activities at Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, the two prominent casino resorts in Singapore. It further emphasized the limitations on diplomatic protections for individuals found violating Chinese laws.

As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, pointing out the legal concerns, the statement pointed out that despite the legality of overseas casinos, Chinese citizens’ involvement in cross-border gambling might violate national laws.

China’s stance against cross-border gambling has been evident in recent years, with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism compiling a blacklist of overseas tourist destinations perceived to disrupt outbound tourism by catering to mainland Chinese customers. While specific locations on the blacklist remain undisclosed, the ministry pledged travel restrictions for citizens visiting these destinations.

Despite previous reports, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines clarified in 2022 that the Philippines was not on the blacklist. However, advisories against casino gambling have been issued by Chinese embassies in various countries, including the Philippines, South Korea, and Sri Lanka.

The embassy’s statement in Singapore reiterated the risks associated with cross-border gambling, including fraud, money laundering, kidnapping, detention, trafficking, and smuggling.

This advisory reflects China’s ongoing efforts to regulate and discourage its citizens from participating in overseas gambling activities, aligning with its broader policies on social and legal issues.