【News Buddy】地下博彩濫用大數據 誘網民做「艇仔」劏客 AI, Telegram bots, and Crypto: How illegal World Cup betting targets HK users

摘錄自6月10日香港《文匯報》：今屆美加墨世界盃決賽周開鑼，全城足球狂熱再度升溫，隱藏於虛擬世界裏的非法外圍世界盃「搶客大戰」亦悄然打響。香港文匯報臥底記者透過深入網絡放蛇調查發現，今年的地下博彩產業鏈已全面升級，不法分子利用AI自動化、社媒大數據、Telegram機器人搜索及加密貨幣結算，新興的「預測市場」平台（如Polymarket）也加入混戰，編織出一張無孔不入的「科技捕蠅網」，利用算法「割韭菜」，甚至有人伺機拉攏網民做「艇仔」負責拉客，「他們（下線）輸愈多你賺愈多，最高有55%，比如你拉的人輸10,000元，你就賺5,500元。」

With the FIFA World Cup finals approaching, football fever is rising across the city. But behind the excitement, an illegal online betting war is also quietly escalating.

An undercover investigation by Hong Kong Wen Wei Po found that underground betting networks have upgraded their entire operations this year—using AI automation, social-media big-data targeting, Telegram bot-driven search tactics, and cryptocurrency settlement to build a near-omnipresent "tech flytrap" designed to "harvest" users through algorithms. Some operators even recruit ordinary netizens as agents to attract new bettors by promising aggressive commission rates. "The more your downline loses, the more you earn—up to 55%." For example, they claim that if a recruited bettor loses HKD 10,000, the recruiter can earn HKD 5,500.

歷屆世界盃的地下外圍賭博依賴傳統波纜「艇仔」在酒吧或熟人圈子拉客，但隨着科技更迭，今屆外圍賭波集團大舉入侵YouTube、Facebook、Ig、Google等主流平台，輸入「世界盃」或「看球直播」等關鍵詞，就能打開潘朵拉的盒子，海量的波纜資訊鋪天蓋地湧現。

In past World Cups, illegal betting often relied on traditional "agents" recruiting in bars or among acquaintances. This time, however, syndicates have pushed into mainstream platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Google. According to the investigation, simply searching for keywords like "World Cup" or "match livestream" can lead to a flood of betting "tips," links, and promotional content.

「艇仔」主要分為三類：第一是「KOL及AI偽裝導流」，打着免費足球分析的旗號，發布全由AI生成的視頻，不斷引流用戶前往看似專業的免費AI預測賽果網站，吸引網民下注 ；第二是「新賬號硬宣傳」，諸多剛開通的粗製濫造賬號直接在簡介欄彈出各類境外賭網連結，並以「首次開戶存款送美金」、「大咖代言」為誘餌 ；第三是「Telegram搜索污染」，不法分子不需要跨平台引流，Telegram自身的搜索欄已淪為重災區，氾濫的機器人搜索引擎讓用戶一輸入關鍵詞，海量的賭博廣告與導流連接便會瞬間吞噬頁面。

KOL + AI "disguised" funneling: accounts promote "free football analysis," publishing videos generated by AI to direct users to seemingly professional "free AI match prediction" sites—then steer them toward placing bets. New accounts with blunt advertising: low-effort accounts place offshore gambling links directly in bios or posts, baiting users with offers such as "deposit bonuses" or "celebrity endorsements." Telegram search pollution: without needing cross-platform traffic, operators exploit Telegram's own search ecosystem—where bot-powered search engines cause betting ads and diversion links to dominate results the moment users type in related keywords.

當記者順着引流標籤，點擊TG群組的機器人連接互動或留下搜尋痕跡後，記者的手機一瞬間收到數十個來自陌生人的私信。不少人直接對記者發出邀請：「你幫平台拉人，只要他們下注，你就能躺着抽流水佣金，一起發財！」

After interacting with Telegram bot links or leaving search traces, the undercover reporter's phone reportedly began receiving dozens of unsolicited private messages from strangers inviting him to become a recruiter: "Just bring people in. As long as they bet, you can earn commission—lying down and collecting."

不少平台宣稱，首次開戶及存放款項即送一倍存款，還聲稱「100%包賠」不走數，記者遂向客服查詢詳情，以及下注和提款的限制。客服卻直言不諱：「天下沒有免費午餐」，送出的獎金必須在平台投注高達至少5倍甚至數十倍的「投注額」後才能解鎖提現，且並非所有贈送禮金都可用於投注體育賽事，只能用於其他博彩遊戲，變相令人愈陷愈深。

Many platforms advertise "first deposit matched 1:1" and even claim "100% guaranteed compensation." But when the reporter asked customer service about the terms, the response was blunt: "There's no free lunch." Bonuses are often locked behind requirements to wager at least five times—sometimes dozens of times—the bonus amount before withdrawal is allowed. Some "gift credits" cannot be used for sports betting and can only be spent on other gambling products, pushing users deeper into the ecosystem.

近年新興的「預測市場」平台也加入混戰，在部分YouTube KOL的視頻下，已開始出現這類新型平台的推廣。傳統賭波是玩家與莊家對賭，賠率由莊家決定；而預測市場則採用類似金融衍生品的「訂單簿」模式，玩家之間互相買賣關於世界盃賽果的「Yes/No」份額，價格隨市場勝率實時上下浮動。

The investigation also notes that newer "prediction market" platforms have joined the competition, with some promoted in the comment sections of certain YouTube videos. Unlike traditional sports betting—where odds are set by a bookmaker—prediction markets use an order-book model similar to that of financial derivatives. Users buy and sell "Yes/No" shares tied to match outcomes, with prices moving in real time.

這類平台利用金融科技包裝，消除了傳統賭博的低俗感，容易讓年輕人或中產階層產生「我在做理財、做高智商投資」的虛榮錯覺，因而放低防備。

然而，其潛在風險仍很高。傳統賭網買定離手後只能等待球賽結果，但預測市場最致命的是「24小時隨時可交易」。

在球賽進行時，份額價格會因應場上局勢即時暴漲暴跌，玩家可以在比賽中途無數次反覆買賣以求「套利」或「割肉」。這種即時反饋帶來的感官刺激，更容易讓人陷入像炒幣、炒股一樣的強迫性交易，成癮更深。

Such fintech-style packaging can reduce the stigma of gambling and create the illusion—especially among younger users or the middle class—that they are making "smart investments."

Yet the risks remain high, particularly because these markets can trade 24 hours a day. During a match, prices can swing rapidly, encouraging repeated in-game trading—fueling compulsive behavior similar to high-frequency speculation.makes it easier for people to fall into compulsive trading, like trading cryptocurrencies or stocks, leading to deeper addiction.

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