Police in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand arrested more than 5000 people in an coordinated swoop against illegal football betting during the World Cup, Interpol said on Friday.

The international police agency, which helped coordinate the month-long operation, said officers had raided more than 800 illegal gambling dens that handled more than $US155 million ($A175.34 million) in bets.

"The results we have seen are impressive," said Interpol executive director for police services Jean-Michel Louboutin, in a statement released by the agency's international headquarters in Lyon, central France.

"As well as having clear connections to organised crime gangs, illegal soccer gambling is also linked with corruption, money laundering and prostitution," Louboutin added.

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