South Korean Police Dismantle Illegal Gambling Network Handling $17.3 Billion

South Korean police have dismantled an alleged illegal gambling supply network whose websites handled approximately KRW23 trillion, reported as $17.3 billion, in wagers.

The Chungnam Provincial Police Agency announced the operation on October 19. Investigators apprehended 77 people, with 21 placed in detention, over alleged involvement in producing and supplying gambling websites, operating the platforms and gambling through them.

Police described the wagering volume as the largest uncovered in a South Korean illegal gambling website investigation. The figure represents stakes handled through the platforms. Investigators separately estimated the suppliers’ and developers’ alleged criminal proceeds at KRW150 billion. 

Network Supplied Ready-Made Gambling Websites

According to investigators, the network created and distributed 188 illegal gambling websites between March 2023 and July 2026, with operations spanning South Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The alleged supply chain connected overseas gaming content providers, website developers and downstream operators. Suppliers obtained casino video feeds and game credits from gaming companies operating legally overseas, then passed those resources to developers producing the illegal platforms.

Police said the development business recruited programmers with experience at major South Korean companies. It allegedly built proprietary software capable of creating a gambling website in approximately 10 minutes. 

Investigation Traced Hundreds of Financial Accounts

The investigation began after police apprehended a downstream gambling operation in November 2025. Investigators then examined 795 financial accounts and communications through overseas messaging services to identify the organisations supplying the sites.

The 77 people apprehended comprised 25 alleged supply-network participants, 33 website operators and 19 gamblers, according to Yonhap’s account of the police announcement. 

Investigators said participants repeatedly moved offices between South Korea and Southeast Asia and used overseas servers and messaging services to avoid detection. Police also applied criminal organisation charges to 24 members of the development business. 

Websites Shut Down and Assets Preserved

Police said all 188 websites supplied by the network had ceased operating, while access to 408 associated internet addresses had been blocked.

Authorities also secured pre-indictment preservation measures covering KRW9.6 billion, approximately $7.2 million, in suspected criminal proceeds and notified the National Tax Service.

Investigators are pursuing 12 suspects who fled overseas through Interpol Red Notice procedures and international cooperation aimed at securing their return to South Korea.