BEIJING -- Chinese police have cracked 825 criminal cases related to illegal football gambling and dismantled over 500 criminal gangs since a summer operation was launched on June 24, an official from the Ministry of Public Security said on Friday.

These cases involve gambling funds amounting to more than 30 billion yuan ($4.28 billion), Zhang Xiaopeng, deputy director of the ministry's bureau of public security administration, revealed at a press conference.

The ministry has prioritized efforts to combat the operation of illegal gambling venues during major football events, including UEFA Euro 2024 and the Copa America, Zhang said, adding that police across the country have been instructed to carry out special operations targeting football gambling.