Beijing police said they have confiscated more than 600 gambling machines since December and will continue to crack down on the machines that have been attracting young people to gambling.

The municipal public order management corps, a department under the capital's Public Security Bureau, launched a campaign against underground gambling venues in December.

So far, police have closed 99 illegal gambling venues and seized 627 gambling machines, according to a statement provided by the bureau.

On Jan 7, police detained five people suspected of taking part in gambling activities and found 89 gambling machines in a residential building in Chaoyang district, said Wang Xin, a police officer in the department.

In another crackdown on Jan 8, police captured five people and confiscated four gambling machines in a commercial building in Xicheng district. On the same day, police detained 14 people and seized 12 gambling machines mixed with electronic game machines in Haidian district, Wang said.

"These are crimes designed to lure youngsters to get involved in gambling, in the form of games," he said, adding that the crackdowns are aimed at providing a safe and clean environment for students off campus.

Such crackdowns will go on, he said.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn