South Korean Police Arrest 18 in $93 Million Illegal Online Gambling Ring

South Korean police have apprehended 18 individuals, including key figures like the ringleader and call center manager, for their involvement in a large-scale illegal online gambling operation.

The operation, which began in 2023, involved taking over three gambling websites hosted in Cambodia. The suspects then recruited 256 adult PC rooms across South Korea to install their illegal gambling software, generating an estimated $9 million in illicit profits.

The total gambling volume processed through these sites reached approximately $250 million. The organization was structured with distinct roles, including a ringleader, finance team, management, and sales, and operated call centers from Cambodia, periodically relocating their offices to evade detection.

Authorities initiated the investigation last October after receiving a tip about illegal gambling programs being installed in adult PC rooms. Through analysis of financial transactions and intercepted Telegram communications, police identified and apprehended the suspects, including those based in Cambodia.

Police are continuing their investigation and are also looking into the adult PC room owners for complicity, with many facing charges for aiding illegal gambling operations. Administrative action, including potential business closures, is being requested for the implicated PC rooms.

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The total gambling volume processed through these sites reached approximately $250 million.