Digital readers in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.[Provided to China Daily]

The longevity of gambling apps even in Apple's App Store points to a shady marriage of illegal interests. Those running the apps pay so-called agencies to open a legitimate account on various platforms, where they clandestinely promote their apps during night hours.

Both the "middlemen" and the service platforms are supposed to know what is going on with these dubious accounts. But neither of them has done anything to put a stop to it. As a result, many think it is okay to give it a go because the apps are "endorsed" by big-name companies.

Creating gambling apps or contributing to their operation, according to the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, is deemed to be running a casino.

If the news service apps prove to have profited from the illegal gambling apps, they too should be held accountable.

It is no news that some hit news apps display links to obscene and gambling content at midnight, when the supervision is relatively weaker. That could have serious consequences given their users include children. Police intervention is thus called for to ensure a healthy online environment.