Hong Kong  - A 10-day crackdown on illegal bookmakers in Hong Kong uncovered betting orders totalling 12.2 million Hong Kong dollars (1.5 million US dollars), a news report said Monday.

Twenty-three people were arrested in the operation, the third this year aimed at curbing illegal gambling in the city of 7 million.

Gambling is a hugely popular activity in Hong Kong but is illegal except for betting on horse racing and football through the official Jockey Club and a weekly government-run lottery.

It is also illegal to place bets with overseas gambling websites, even if it is allowed in the country where the websites are based.

Police said they identified about 12 websites taking bets from locals gamblers, one of which took bets worth more than 100 million Hong Kong dollars in a year.

A senior police officer said tackling such bookmaking operations was very time-consuming. (dpa)