Corona and 'Investment Disguise' Gambling Sites... Police Uncover 3,877 Cases of Illegal Cyber Gambling

Seizure and Forfeiture of 85.6 Billion KRW in Criminal Proceeds
Majority Unemployed Among 2030 Gambling Offenders
Evolution of Crime Methods Including Virtual Asset Laundering

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters announced on the 24th that it cracked down on a total of 3,877 cases and arrested 3,104 people through an intensive crackdown on illegal cyber gambling over eight months from March to October. Among them, 171 people were detained.

During this period, the police conducted intensive crackdowns targeting ▲ illegal site operators ▲ program developers and distributors ▲ server administrators and brokers ▲ conspirators and accomplices such as gambling site distributors and promotional organizations ▲ and gambling participants, centered on cyber gambling investigation teams operating in 13 metropolitan and provincial police agencies as well as police station cyber investigation teams.

The types of arrests were led by illegal sports gambling with 2,476 cases (62.4%), followed by illegal gambling games such as Powerball and Ladder Game with 1,058 cases (28.9%), casinos with 175 cases (4.4%), and horse racing, bicycle racing, and motorboat racing with 168 cases (4.3%).

In particular, it was confirmed that the methods are evolving, such as the detection of 'investment disguise' gambling sites like stocks and virtual assets that took advantage of the worsening economic situation due to COVID-19 and the investment craze, or laundering criminal proceeds through virtual assets.

In fact, the Gangwon Police Agency uncovered an organization that established a gambling space worth 100 billion won, which developed three virtual futures trading HTS programs from July 2018 to March this year, recruited members, and operated by betting on the rise and fall of virtual futures options. Also, the Cheongju Cheongwon Police Station in Chungbuk uncovered an illegal gambling site worth 220 billion won, which earned criminal proceeds worth about 4.7 billion won and attempted money laundering using a virtual asset exchange.

The age group of suspects was mostly in their 20s at 33.6% and 30s at 32.8%, making those in their 20s and 30s the largest group. By occupation, the unemployed accounted for the highest proportion at 26%, followed by office workers at 19%, and self-employed at 13%.

The police obtained seizure and pre-prosecution confiscation and seizure preservation orders for a total of 85.6 billion won to recover criminal proceeds, and notified the National Tax Service of 205 cases to support the prompt collection of evaded income. A police official warned, "Be cautious of methods that induce joining illegal gambling sites by sending messages disguised as 'high-profit investment information' or 'COVID-19 related information,'" adding, "Illegal cyber gambling can result in punishment not only for operators but also for those who lend their bank accounts, collaborators who withdraw profits, and even participants who gamble out of curiosity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.