British National Prosecuted for Operating Election Betting Platform, Ordered to Pay NT$120,000 to Public Treasury

(CNA, Yunlin County, July 9) A British national, allegedly unaware of Taiwanese law, set up an election betting platform on a decentralized prediction website last year, allowing gamblers to bet with virtual currency. The Yunlin District Prosecutors Office has concluded its investigation and granted him a suspended prosecution due to his good conduct after the offense, requiring him to pay NT$120,000 to the public treasury.

According to a press release issued by the Taiwan Yunlin District Prosecutors Office today, the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of the Interior and the Yunlin County Police Bureau discovered during online patrols that an unknown individual had set up a betting platform on a decentralized online platform targeting the elections scheduled for the end of 2026. The police reported this to the Yunlin District Prosecutors Office for investigation.

The special task force investigated and found that the man, whose surname is Wilkes, had been working in Taiwan for about two years. Allegedly unaware of Taiwanese law, he set up an online election betting platform on a decentralized prediction website in December last year, covering the election results for mayors of special municipalities and county mayors. The platform allowed gamblers to use the website's designated virtual currency as betting chips, link to the betting platform, and place bets on the results of elections for special municipality mayors and county mayors, as well as party results.

The special task force apprehended the man in May this year and seized his mobile phone and other evidence. The case was transferred to the Yunlin District Prosecutors Office for investigation on charges of violating the Public Servants Election and Recall Act and gambling.

According to the prosecution's investigation, the betting platform attracted 36 gamblers after its launch. Wilkes allegedly made an illegal profit of approximately NT$130,000 from commission fees.

The prosecution determined that Wilkes confessed to the crime during the investigation and exhibited good conduct afterward. He had no prior criminal record and allegedly acted out of ignorance of Taiwanese law, making a momentary lapse in judgment that led to the offense. The investigation concluded with a suspended prosecution for violating the Election and Recall Act and other charges, requiring him to pay NT$120,000 to the public treasury. (Editor: Li Ming-tsung) 1150709

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