Twelve apprehended in South Korea for involvement in $43 million illegal gambling ring

According to The Korea Times, 12 individuals were recently arrested and are now facing prosecution for allegedly participating in illegal gambling. The details of the case were revealed by Ulsan police on Monday, showing that the illegal gambling operation was dismantled after an investigation was launched based on a tip received. The police initially received the tip-off in March 2025, leading to an investigation where they gathered evidence and identified those involved. More than a year later, the group was successfully dismantled, resulting in multiple arrests. Additionally, five other individuals suspected of being part of the gambling operation are thought to have fled to Thailand and remain at large. Law enforcement has secured a Red Notice from Interpol for their arrest. A police representative emphasized their commitment to tracking down any suspects involved in illegal activities and highlighted their readiness to collaborate with international agencies to ensure justice is served.

It has been revealed that between November 2022 and July 2025, an illegal gambling syndicate was in operation. This group cleverly concealed their activities by utilizing pre-paid phones and mule bank accounts. According to police, all the suspects involved are in their 20s and 30s. Alarmingly, the syndicate processed over 60 billion won, equivalent to $43.4 million, in bets. From this amount, they managed to pocket about 3 billion won, or $2.2 million. By offering illegal online casinos, sports betting, and slots, the syndicate drew in gamblers with enticing promises of large prizes and fictitious winning odds. Group members streamed these gambling activities online, using a platform that displayed false win rates and fake rewards. Additionally, they employed software to manipulate the number of real-time viewers of the streams, generating buzz and attracting more gamblers to their websites.