Internet celebrity Guo Meimei arrested for running casino

File photo of Guo Meimei (Source: Chinanews.com)

Chinese Internet celebrity Guo Meimei was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly running casino, authorities confirmed.

Police found Guo, 23, was addicted to gambling and travelled frequently to Macao, Hong Kong and even foreign countries to bet. She met another gambler, surnamed Kang, at the end of 2012 and they soon became lovers.

In February, 2013, the pair rented an apartment in east Beijing's Chaoyang District, before purchasing gambling tables, chips and a POS machine.

Guo also hired professional players to deal and cash up. For each game, the bets of which usually above one million yuan (about $160,000), Guo raked in three to five percent as kickback.

Police detained her on July 14.

Chinese Criminal Law stipulates that those who run a casino are subject to detention or jail terms of less than three years. In case of serious offense, the culprit may face three to ten years of imprisonment.

Guo gained notoriety in China in 2011, when she claimed to be manager of an organization under the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) and openly flaunted her wealth and extravagant lifestyle on social media.

The scandal dealt a major hit to the reputation of the RCSC. The incident and ensuing scandals triggered public concern about embezzlement and improper management of charities.