Mass Arrest of Adolescents in South Korea for Illegally Gambling Aggregate Winnings of $2.64 Million
The South Korean National Police Agency recently conducted a strategic crackdown on the online gambling sector, targeting individuals under the age of 19. The operation, which took place from September 2023 to October 2024, resulted in the arrest of 4,715 minors.
According to the breakdown of the age groups among the arrested individuals, 17-year-olds made up the largest proportion, accounting for 38% of the total, followed by 16-year-olds (26%), 18-year-olds (19%), and 14-year-olds (4%).
Online casinos were the most popular vertical among the young perpetrators, accounting for 82% of the illegal activities. Sports betting was the second most popular, constituting 11% of the activities.
The police operation also revealed that one 16-year-old individual had played baccarat online with approximately ₩190m ($136,160). On average, each individual wagered approximately ₩780,000 ($559) during the crackdown period.
A total of 1,733 of the arrested individuals were introduced to professional counseling agencies by the police.
South Korea bans most forms of gambling except for horse racing, cycling, and lotteries, with casinos restricted mostly to foreigners. Online gambling remains illegal but persists through offshore websites. Occasional government crackdowns on illegal online gambling occur, but specific recent data or detailed enforcement statistics are not readily available.
The operation serves as a reminder of the dangers of underage gambling and the need for continued efforts to combat this issue. The South Korean government continues to emphasize the importance of protecting minors from the potential harms associated with gambling.
- General news reports highlighted the South Korean police operation targeting underage online casino-gambling, where 4,715 minors were arrested, with 16-year-olds accounting for the second highest proportion.
- Sports betting was the second most popular illegal activity among the young perpetrators participating in the online casino-and-gambling sector, accounting for 11% of the illegal activities.
- The police operation also unveiled a case of a 16-year-old individual who allegedly wagered around ₩190m ($136,160) on baccarat, a popular casino-game, emphasizing the growing gambling-trends among minors and the associated crime-and-justice concerns.
