Gang Operating Overseas Illegal Gambling Sites with Total Bets Over 100 Billion Won Arrested

A group operating an illegal sports gambling site is being arrested at Gimhae International Airport.
[Image source=Busan Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] A group operating an illegal sports gambling site worth 115.8 billion KRW with servers overseas has been apprehended.

On the 19th, the Busan Geumjeong Police Station announced that on July 17th, they arrested nine people, including a man in his 40s identified as Mr. A, at Gimhae International Airport on charges of operating an illegal gambling site, and after investigation, handed them over to the prosecution.

Eight main suspects, including Mr. A, were sent to prosecution in custody on charges of violating the National Sports Promotion Act and opening gambling spaces, while one other was sent without detention.

According to the police, Mr. A and his group operated an illegal gambling site with servers located in the United States from September 2020 until December last year.

The group set up a gambling operation office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, purchased about 30 anonymous accounts via Telegram, and recruited over 2,200 members through gambling promotion sites.

They operated an illegal sports gambling site worth approximately 115.8 billion KRW targeting the recruited members.

All operators lived together, dividing roles such as charging and exchanging money, customer management, and purchasing shell accounts, running the illegal gambling site in an organized manner and earning tens of billions of won in illicit profits.

Three main suspects, who had senior-junior relationships in society, committed the crime by recruiting necessary personnel through social media such as Facebook, believing they could make money through the gambling site.

The police stated that they will hand over the illegal earnings of the arrested gambling site operators to the National Tax Service to ensure tax recovery measures for evaded taxes, and that they are cooperating with Interpol by issuing red notices for accomplices who have gone into hiding.

A police official said, “We are continuing the investigation into the accomplices who have gone into hiding,” and added, “We will also strictly crack down on individuals who use gambling sites.”

The police also booked 168 high-stakes habitual gamblers without detention on charges of violating the National Sports Promotion Act and gambling offenses.

Illegal gambling site operated by a daily worker. [Image source=Busan Police Agency]

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