Police bust Vietnam-based gambling ring linked to $46 million in bets
Korean police referred 13 alleged operators and 105 high-stakes users to prosecutors while pursuing a ringleader who fled overseas.
A table games dealer shuffles a deck of cards at the casino in Chandler, Oklahoma, on Aug. 5, in this photo unrelated to the article.
AP/YONHAP
A group accused of running an illegal online gambling site from an office in Vietnam has been caught by Korean police after the platform handled 63 billion won ($46 million) in bets.
The Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency announced on Tuesday that it referred 13 operators of the gambling site and 105 users to prosecutors without detention on charges that included operating an illegal gambling venue and violating the National Sports Promotion Act.
Gambling is illegal for Korean citizens under the country's Criminal Act, which states that "a person who commits the offense of gambling shall be punished by a fine not exceeding ten million won."
The operators allegedly ran the illegal online gambling site from an office in Vietnam for about 10 months, starting in April 2024. The site offered baccarat, slot machines and sports betting.
Investigators found that the operators recruited users through text messages and online banner advertisements, then pocketed the money that users lost on the site.
A police investigation found that the site had 3,553 users who deposited a combined 63 billion won. One user alone wagered up to 1.3 billion won.
Police referred 105 of its users who wagered large amounts to prosecutors.
Police launched the investigation after receiving a tip in September last year. Investigators analyzed transaction records from more than 200 bank accounts used in the operation and eventually apprehended all members of the management team except one ringleader who fled.
Police also secured a court order to freeze 186.35 million won in suspected criminal proceeds before indictment.
The investigation remains ongoing as police track the ringleader who fled overseas.
BY JEONG JAE-HONG [[email protected]]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
