Two leaders of a gambling and prostitution ring have been sentenced to life in prison and another 85 others were given jail sentences after a nightclub - involving 300 million yuan ($45.8 million) of illicit money - was busted in Zhengzhou, Henan province.

Zhang Liyong, president of the High People's Court in Henan province, announced the result of the case when he delivered an annual work report to the provincial People's Congress.

More than 2,900 women had provided sex services at Royal No 1 Nightclub in Zhengzhou before it was raided and forced to close in November 2013, according to his report.