October 18, 2024 3 min read

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Fact-checked by Velimir Velichkov

Police in South Korea Busts Ring Luring Teens to Illegal Gambling Sites

Taking down the illegal gambling operation, police uncovered nearly 200 students engaged in different gambling activities

South Korea is stepping up its efforts against illegal gambling after taking down a gambling ring that targeted teenagers.

Nine People Were Charged, Close to 200 Teenagers Gambled Online

An extensive investigation by the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency resulted in the arrest of nearly a dozen people, suspected of operating illegal gambling websites, local media outlets report Friday. The probe into unlawful gambling started back in January this year. At the time, law enforcement uncovered an online post in which a parent complained that a person was demanding money from their son who is in middle school in Daejeon.

As a result, the Metropolitan Police Agency focused on taking down the illegal gambling website and uncovered that one main provider was behind a network of accounts. During the most recent operation, law enforcement arrested a total of 10 people suspected of being involved in the operation of nine illegal gambling websites. Out of the total 10 detainees, nine were charged with operating an unlawful gambling website but it remains unclear whether the 10th person was released, or they may face charges too.

The actions of law enforcement uncovered that the gambling websites used approximately 10,000 deposit accounts. Analysis of the data collected in light of the shutdown of the illegal gambling ring revealed that nearly 200 teenagers engaged in illegal gambling. The nine unlawful gambling websites targeted specifically children by offering simple games and betting options such as wagers on football.

High School and Middle School Students Participated in Online Gambling

To gain access to the games, teenagers were required to purchase in-game currency with real currency. “Many students accessed the sites out of curiosity after being encouraged by friends,” explains a statement by the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency and released by Korea JoongAng Daily.

In total, police identified that 171 underage players engaged in a range of different gambling activities. A breakdown reveals that the majority, or 163 of the teenagers, were in high school, while the remaining eight were still in middle school.

What’s known about the gambling ring is that it offered game currency with the equivalent of 500 billion won ($364 million) via nine different websites. Considering the takedown of the unlawful operation, the authorities have also requested a preservation order for 353 million won ($257,238) in what is believed to be proceeds from the unlawful activity.

The majority of the students who participated in gambling activities, or 131, received only a warning for their actions. Some 35 students were referred to judgment, while charges were filed against five who were either repeat offenders or deposited more than 5 million won.

Journalist

Jerome is a welcome new addition to the Gambling News team, bringing years of journalistic experience within the iGaming sector. His interest in the industry begun after he graduated from college where he played in regular local poker tournaments which eventually lead to exposure towards the growing popularity of online poker and casino rooms. Jerome now puts all the knowledge he's accrued to fuel his passion for journalism, providing our team with the latest scoops online.

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