South Korean authorities have dealt a major blow to a transnational illegal gambling operation that reportedly handled approximately KRW 5.3 trillion (around US $3.7 billion) in just seven months.
The investigation, led by the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency, culminated in the arrest of 14 individuals — including the mastermind allegedly known only as “A” — on November 6, 2025. The network, based in the Philippines and operating hundreds of illegal gambling websites targeting South Korean bettors, collected fees and offered live casino feeds, digital-money transfers and rigged access to real-money games.
Operators charged monthly fees from 266 websites and distributed traditional casino-style games like baccarat, while facilitating bets and payouts in covert channels. The structure reportedly included server rental fronts, crypto transfers, and offshore platforms, making it difficult for regulators to trace.
This crackdown underscores how online gambling networks are evolving globally: targeting new markets, using live-streaming visuals, crypto routes, and international teams to bypass local enforcement. South Korea—despite banning most forms of online gambling—has increasingly become a pressure point for such syndicates.
