Police arrested eight bookmakers taking profits on bets and seized about 28 million rupees ($620,000). -Photo by AP

NEW DELHI: Indian police say they have smashed four betting syndicates and arrested nine men in New Delhi and Mumbai for running illegal gambling syndicates during the World Cup.

Ashok Chand, a senior police official, says officers raided a hotel and three apartments in central and northern Delhi on Sunday when they seized laptops, mobile phones and other equipment used by the bookies to accept and record bets on the outcome of matches.

Chand tells The Associated Press that police were ''acting on a tip that gambling syndicates are active during the matches'' and have broken up at least four gambling syndicates.

Police arrested eight bookmakers taking profits on the bets and seized about 28 million rupees ($620,000).