An official with the Ministry of Public Security on Friday said police will continue to crack down on gambling in order to maintain social stability and prevent corruption.

Xu Hu, vice director of the ministry's public security bureau, said since 1999 illegal gambling has become rampant in central and south China's provinces of Hunan, Hubei and Guangdong.

Xu said illegal gambling has severely affected the local economy, as some locals have lost all their savings and property and have been left without resources to continue farming or their business.

Illegal gambling has also damaged social stability, as some people have resorted to stealing and robbing and some officials or state workers have embezzled public funds or taken bribes to cover their gambling debts, said Xu.

Some officials have even become organizers of illegal gambling dens or acted as a "protective umbrella" for gambling gangs, he said.

"Police across the nation will strengthen cooperation to crack the gangs that run gambling dens and intensify education of citizens asking them not to become involved in any form of gambling," said Xu.

Police say they face a difficult task as gangs are well organized and often run their businesses in the remote countryside.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2006)