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Read Full BioSouth Korean police have arrested four people they suspect of operating an illegal online gambling platform that targeted teenage gamers.
The broadcaster KBS reported that the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency’s Metropolitan Investigation Unit’s Mobile Criminal Investigation Division believes the portal processed bets worth 24.9 billion won ($18.2 million)
Officers said the site’s suspected mastermind is aged 20-29. The agency arrested the suspect in the city of Suwon.
The ringleader allegedly rented an apartment in Hwaseong, a town located to the southwest of Suwon, in February 2023.
The suspects then reportedly used the address as a makeshift office. At least 2,000 people made bets on the site, of which 100 are believed to be teenagers.
These younger visitors placed bets on the site. Some spent as little as 50,000 won ($36.51). But other big-spending teens are thought to have spent as much as 5 million won ($3,651) on the site.
South Korean Police: Gambling Portal Targeted Teen Bettors
Two of the arrestees were charged with promoting the gambling site to teenagers through their acquaintances.
Officers allege the head of the operation pocketed 20% of losing bets and spent the money on buying luxury watches and expensive imported sports cars.
The agency released photos of several high-end sports cars and Rolex watches it confiscated during a series of raids.
Investigators have asked a court for permission to freeze cash deposits worth 1.1 billion won ($803,025). They say the money is linked to the crime.
The agency confirmed that it is continuing to search for other “gang members” it suspects of helping to operate the gambling portal.
Platform Offered Online Slots, Sports Betting, and Casino Games
The portal appears to have offered users access to a range of betting services. These included baccarat and other casino-type card game streams and betting. The site also provided sports betting and online slots. Officers say that children as young as 13 used the portal.
The gang appears to have been aware of a police investigation. It seems to have attempted to cover its tracks by changing the portal’s domain address on three occasions.
The group also operated more than 40 bank accounts in a bid to launder its funds.
The case will be passed to the local prosecution service. If convicted, the suspects could face jail terms of up to five years.
South Korea is currently battling worsening youth gambling addiction rates. In May, the Korea Institute for Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment spoke to 13,368 students at 605 schools nationwide about their gambling experiences.
The NGO found that 4.3% of the students admitted to having gambled at least once. Almost one in five of this number said they had become “habitual gamblers.”
Earlier, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said it was investigating a man suspected of launching illegal gambling sites with the assistance of North Korean hackers.
