At the peak of his popularity, Shin was arrested in the Philippines, accused of amassing huge gambling-related debts.

During an appearance on the YouTube talk show Channel Gojunghe (“Fix It”), Shin spoke about his previous experiences on TV variety shows.

He heaped praise on the producers of these shows and their subsequent work. He then looked at the camera and said: “What kind of program do you want to appear on? Please call me! Please write to me. I’m at my lowest point right now. Why aren’t you answering my phone calls?”

The mood of the conversation was light and semi-joking in tone. However, media outlets like TV Report agreed that Shin “couldn’t hide his desire to return to the broadcasting industry” during his appearance on Channel Gojunghe.

Shin Jung-hwan Comeback – Could Star Return to South Korean Screens?

Shin debuted as part of the four-member K-pop group Roo’ra in 1994. The group shot to fame with chart-topping songs like “3!4!” Roo’ra disbanded in 2001, reuniting briefly in 2009.

However, Shin’s popularity outlasted the group, and he became a mainstay on some of South Korea’s most-watched variety shows.

His career took a nose dive after his arrest in the Philippines. 

Shin later claimed that he had only traveled to the Philippines “for tourism purposes.” He denied gambling and claimed he was unable to return to South Korea as he had contracted dengue fever.

This all soon proved to be untrue. Shin later confessed that he had claimed to have caught the disease as it “had been in the news a lot.”

Shin also admitted that his gambling habit had become so all-consuming that he sometimes “stayed at casinos for three days straight, without sleeping.”

On January 20, 2011, Shin finally returned to his homeland, where he was tried for habitual gambling, as well as violation of the Foreign Exchange Trade Act and the Passport Act. He was sentenced to eight months in prison, but was released on parole after six months.

Gambling Jibes Marred 2016-2017 Comeback Attempt

Shin attempted a comeback in 2016-2017, when he hosted the Mnet reality TV show Project S: Devil’s Talent Donation and appeared on the JTBC talk show Knowing Bros.

The Knowing Bros producers and hosts made several joking references to the gambling scandal throughout his appearance.

However, his return was short-lived, with many online commenters complaining that Shin’s crimes were not suitable material for comedy.

TV Report noted that Shin’s 2016-2017 attempted return was ultimately “thwarted by strong public backlash.”

Earlier this month, the South Korean broadcaster and former volleyball star Kim Yo Han was absolved of illegal gambling charges. A court jailed his would-be blackmailer for a year.

The post K-pop Star Shin Jung-hwan Eyes TV Comeback After 2010 Gambling Scandal appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The South Korean media outlet News1 reported that officers discovered the site while investigating an unnamed 33-year-old man convicted of drunk driving and fleeing the scene of a fatal traffic accident.

The driver was initially sentenced to 10 years in prison during a trial in the District Court. But his sentence was reduced to 7 years and 6 months during an appeals trial held earlier this month.

South Korean Hit-and-Run Driver ‘Was Involved in Gambling Site’

Prosecutors explained that the convict had been driving a Maserati while drunk on a road in Gwangju at around 3:11 AM on September 24, 2024, when his vehicle collided with a motorcycle ahead of him.

As a result of the accident, the motorcycle’s passenger sustained a fatal injury. The motorcycle driver, a 20-year-old man and the boyfriend of the passenger, suffered serious injuries, requiring 24 weeks of treatment.

The Maserati driver sped away from the crash site and left Gwangju shortly after, seemingly intending to flee the country.

During the follow-up investigation of the Maserati driver, investigators “discovered that he was involved in operating an illegal gambling website.”

They launched a separate probe into the site and eventually arrested nine people accused of helping to run the site.

The investigation also resulted in police identifying 440 of the site’s customers. Many of the customers could soon be charged with illegal gambling-related offenses.

Furthermore, officers identified 60 other individuals they think helped launder money for the site. All have been charged, with prosecution officials ready to indict the suspects.

Two-Day Search Ends in Arrest

After the fatal accident, prosecutors told the court that the Maserati driver escaped the city with the help of his acquaintances.

He told at least one of his friends: “I’ve caused a road accident. Please help me escape.” He first fled to a hotel in Gwangju, later moving on to the city of Daejeon.

After that, he abandoned his car and took to public transport. He traveled by taxi and coach to Seoul via Incheon Airport, paying cash in a bid to evade arrest.

A major search ensued, and he was eventually arrested on September 26, two days after the fatal crash, in Seoul’s Yeoksam District.

In May, South Korean police announced a fresh crackdown on hold ‘em pubs, a type of popular gambling “experience” venue.

Officers think that many of these pubs secretly house illegal casinos and offer a range of discreet betting services.

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Gambling is illegal in almost all forms in South Korea, with the exception of horse racing bets at permit-holding tracks and betting at High1, the country’s only casino that admits domestic passport holders.

However, go-stop, a traditional card game played with a small, 48-card hwatu deck, remains popular throughout the nation.

Korean Go-Stop Betting: Prosecutors to Continue Legal Battle?

While it is sometimes played for fun, or for forfeits (with losers receiving a wrap on the knuckles or a tap on the head), many groups of family and friends play the game for money.

In this case, players set a per-point stake. Many groups use a KRW10 ($0.0074)-per point stake.

Officially, this is illegal, and punishable with a system of fines. However, convictions are almost unheard of, particularly in low-stakes games held in private premises.

However, it appears prosecutors are keen to stamp out this form of “social gambling,” and tried on two occasions to convict the pensioner for taking part in the game.

Prosecutors indicted the man after he was arrested for playing go-stop with three neighbors for a stake value of KRW100 ($0.074) per point.

The group was playing the game in an apartment in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, on April 13, 2023, Joongang Ilbo reported.

As the game progressed, the amount of money in the winnings pot rose to a final total of just over $79.

The group had agreed that the winner would use part of the pot to buy beer and Korean fried chicken for the others.

However, at some point, someone in or near the apartment called the police to report gambling activities at the address.

Police responded by dispatching officers to the scene, where they found evidence that the group had been betting on their game.

Game Was ‘Entertainment, Not Gambling,’ Says Judge

At an initial District Court trial, the presiding judge ruled that the group had engaged in “temporary entertainment,” ruling that their game did not constitute actual gambling.

The man was thus found not guilty of all charges. But Jeonju prosecutors decided to challenge the decision at the Jeonju District Court Criminal Appeals division.

The prosecution argued that the defendant had previously been punished for gambling offences.

It also noted that the police had been enacting a crackdown on go-stop gambling at the time. As such, prosecutors claimed it would not be in the spirit of this initiative to absolve the man.

But the appellate court upheld the original verdict. It noted that the fact that the group had agreed the winner would buy refreshments meant the session was not a “winner-takes-all” game.

District Court Ruling Upheld

The appellate court judge said that the amount of money at stake in the game was not excessive. The judge added: “We uphold the original judgment. It cannot be said that there was any illegality involved. Nor was there a misunderstanding of legal principles, as the prosecution claims.”

Prosecution officials will now have to decide if they want to pursue the matter further, taking the case to the High or Supreme Courts.

CasinoBeats spoke to two South Korean taxpayers about the case. Both expressed mixed feelings about the idea of the matter heading to the Supreme Court.

Cho Doo-hyeon, a pensioner living in Northern Seoul, said: “It does seem like quite a frivolous case for judges and public prosecutors to spend time and money on. But there is a basic principle at stake. Is betting on go-stop legal or illegal? I think the messaging on this needs to be clear.”

Choi Mi-ra, a part-time teacher, explained: “This case is something of a storm in a teacup. Surely there are more pressing legal matters than these to deal with in South Korea today?”

South Korean media outlets took a dim view of the case. Some called the stakes involved in the game “mere pocket change.”

The post Could Pensioner’s $79 Go-Stop Bet Case Head to South Korean Supreme Court? appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Per Yonhap News, the operator is holding the festival, named the 2025 High1 Flower Festa, at its ski resort. The event will run from June 13 to June 29.

The resort’s botanists say they have planted a wide range of wildflowers on the resort’s ski slopes. These include European daisies and the much larger Shasta daisies.

Kangwon Land Resort: Flower Festival at High1 Resort

Visitors will be able to walk along paths through the flower-filled slopes. Alternatively, they can take an hour-long ride through the slopes in electric-powered carts.

They can also use ski lifts and cable cars to rise above the slopes and take in a birds-eye view of the wildflower fields.

The operator said it had also created a range of photo zones on the slopes, featuring angelic wings, a mini windmill, and a piano in a flower-filled garden area.

On its website, High1 explained that it had also created a Flower Festa Picnic package product, which comprises a picnic meal and a night’s stay in the resort’s hotel or condos.

Mountain Views and Casino Gaming

Its cafe, High1 claimed, allows visitors an unrivalled view of the northern parts of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range. The latter is a network of peaks that runs north to south along the Korean Peninsula.

High1 says it has also created a local food zone, with trailers providing guests with a range of Gangwon Province delicacies.

The operator says the festival will also feature live music performances from independent artists. There will also be magic shows, as well as bubble and balloon art performances for younger visitors.

Lee Min-ho, the resort’s Marketing Planning Director, said that the “dazzling beauty of the wild flowers” provided a perfect backdrop to the “blue skies of early summer” at High1.

Kangwon Land first opened to the public in October 2000, becoming the first hotel-casino in the nation with the right to admit South Korean passport holders.

High1 reported 620,000 guest visits during Q125 and reported a 5.5% year-on-year increase in total bets, suggesting strong engagement during festive periods.

The current gaming space is over 27,000 square-metres and features over 200 table games and 1,360 slot machines. Under expansion plans, capacity could increase to 250 tables and 1,860 slots. There has also been discussion around a new, secondary casino which could help alleviate crowding during peak-season.

Kangwon Land’s ownership structure is somewhat complex. The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy’s Mine Reclamation Corporation holds a 36.27% stake in the operator.

The Gangwon Province government-run Gangwon Development Corporation holds a 6.11% share, with National Pension Service owning 5.58%.

Earlier this month, police in Gyeonggi Province arrested four people suspected of operating an illegal gambling and casino portal that processed bets worth 24.9 billion won ($18.2 million).

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The broadcaster KBS reported that the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency’s Metropolitan Investigation Unit’s Mobile Criminal Investigation Division believes the portal processed bets worth 24.9 billion won ($18.2 million)

Officers said the site’s suspected mastermind is aged 20-29. The agency arrested the suspect in the city of Suwon.

The ringleader allegedly rented an apartment in Hwaseong, a town located to the southwest of Suwon, in February 2023.

The suspects then reportedly used the address as a makeshift office. At least 2,000 people made bets on the site, of which 100 are believed to be teenagers.

These younger visitors placed bets on the site. Some spent as little as 50,000 won ($36.51). But other big-spending teens are thought to have spent as much as 5 million won ($3,651) on the site.

South Korean Police: Gambling Portal Targeted Teen Bettors

Two of the arrestees were charged with promoting the gambling site to teenagers through their acquaintances.

Officers allege the head of the operation pocketed 20% of losing bets and spent the money on buying luxury watches and expensive imported sports cars.

The agency released photos of several high-end sports cars and Rolex watches it confiscated during a series of raids.

Investigators have asked a court for permission to freeze cash deposits worth 1.1 billion won ($803,025). They say the money is linked to the crime.

The agency confirmed that it is continuing to search for other “gang members” it suspects of helping to operate the gambling portal.

Platform Offered Online Slots, Sports Betting, and Casino Games

The portal appears to have offered users access to a range of betting services. These included baccarat and other casino-type card game streams and betting. The site also provided sports betting and online slots. Officers say that children as young as 13 used the portal.

The gang appears to have been aware of a police investigation. It seems to have attempted to cover its tracks by changing the portal’s domain address on three occasions.

The group also operated more than 40 bank accounts in a bid to launder its funds.

The case will be passed to the local prosecution service. If convicted, the suspects could face jail terms of up to five years.

South Korea is currently battling worsening youth gambling addiction rates. In May, the Korea Institute for Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment spoke to 13,368 students at 605 schools nationwide about their gambling experiences.

The NGO found that 4.3% of the students admitted to having gambled at least once. Almost one in five of this number said they had become “habitual gamblers.”

Earlier, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said it was investigating a man suspected of launching illegal gambling sites with the assistance of North Korean hackers.

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South Korea goes to the ballot box to choose its next President on June 3. Lee Jae-myung, of the Democratic Party (DP), has a lead of between 9% and 12% ahead of his closest rivals in most opinion polls.

However, political rivals are calling for a public inquiry into the frontrunner and his 28-year-old son Lee Dong-ho.

The ruling People Power Party has created a unit named the “Lee Jae-myung Family Corruption Investigation Team.” The team says it will reveal the truth about Lee Dong-ho’s gambling habits.

South Korean Presidential Frontrunner: Gambling Controversy Continues

Lee Dong-ho, critics claim, has been unemployed for several years. Rivals claim this has not stopped the younger Lee from allegedly spending vast sums of money on online gambling sites.

Per Lee Jae-myung’s most recent financial declarations, Lee Dong-ho’s total assets are worth just over $2,800.

The PPP plans to file a complaint with the prosecution service. It has linked the younger Lee to “illegal gambling funds” worth some $168,550.

The ruling party says the funds are “suspicious.” It complained that the elder Lee and his wife Kim Hye-kyung have remained silent about the matter.

The media outlet New Daily quoted Gyeonggi Provincial Government officials as stating that they drove Lee Dong-ho home from hospital in an official vehicle in June 2021. The officials also say they handled his discharge process. At the time, Lee Jae-myung was serving as the Governor of Gyeonggi Province.

During this period, Lee Dong-ho allegedly continued to gamble, spending around $4,850 on illegal gambling sites.

The officials provided screenshots of Telegram group chat conversations as proof of the veracity of their claims.

Prosecutors think Lee Dong-ho gambled on illegal sites while in the hospital and immediately after his discharge.

Critics claim that Lee Jae-myung and his wife allowed their son to misuse public resources, while the latter repeatedly broke the law.

The ruling party says it will report the trio to the Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office. It accused the Lee family of violating tax law, money laundering regulations, and public election rules.

Tax Evasion Claims

Per Chosun Biz, the PPP lawmaker Joo Jin-woo said: “If a person uses their parents’ money to gamble, this may constitute a gift tax evasion violation. If the money was a gift, questions arise about where the cash came from. There is no explanation of when, where, and how the gift was made, or what the source of these funds was.”

In late October last year, a branch of the Suwon District Court found Lee Dong-ho guilty of habitual gambling and violations of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (the distribution of obscene materials).

The court ordered the younger Lee to pay a 5 million KRW ($3,635) fine. Court documents list Lee Dong-ho’s occupation as “unemployed.”

A PPP lawmaker told New Daily: “The candidate’s family must have an enormous sense of privilege. They thought it was natural for a 28-year-old man to be ferried around [in public vehicles] and gamble illegally right after being discharged.”

Lee Dong-ho Has Paid For His Crimes, Says DP

The Democratic Party claimed that the courts had already punished Lee Dong-ho for his illegal gambling. It considers the matter closed.

A DP spokesperson said the Gyeonggi Provincial Government officials’ claims were one-sided and had yet to be proved.

Last month, a survey revealed that 4.3% of South Korean elementary, middle, and high school children say they have experienced gambling. Most said they had placed bets online.

In April, police in Gyeonggi Province arrested 19 people accused of running an illegal gambling platform and several associated offline casinos.

All forms of online betting are illegal in South Korea.

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Most forms of sports betting are illegal in South Korea. However, in 2000, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism green-lighted the launch of Sports Toto, a service similar to the British football pools and tote betting systems common in other countries.

Sports Toto allows citizens aged 20 and over to buy tickets worth a maximum of KRW 100,000 ($72). Players must effectively predict the results of multiple fixtures.

Stakes are pooled, and players with the most correct predictions are awarded weekly cash prizes.

Currently, the only pro sports included on tickets are soccer (football), baseball, volleyball, golf, and basketball. Each sport has its ticket, and players can place their bets at convenience stores nationwide.

However, the media outlet Inven reported that the Korea e-Sports Association has presented the Democratic Party (DP) with a proposal for an offering tentatively named “e-Sports Toto.”

Esports Toto: Could Lobbying Efforts Bear Fruit?

The DP has 170 out of 300 seats in the National Assembly. Its candidate for June 3’s Presidential Elections, Lee Jae-myung, has a 20 percentage-point lead over his nearest rival in most recent opinion polls.

As such, the DP will likely form the next government of South Korea. The party has made several pro-business manifesto pledges in the IT sector.

The association appears hopeful of persuading the party to back its bid, as esports franchises struggle to find new revenue streams.

Any decision to back the proposal would be beset with challenges, however. The nation is currently battling a worsening youth gambling epidemic.

And creating an esports toto would require legislative approval, in the form of a revision to the Enforcement Decree of the Sports Promotion Voting Rights Act.

The association, however, has suggested a “gradual” introduction, starting with a controlled pilot project involving a small number of pro league fixtures.

The body claimed that the project could help provide much-needed financial resources for South Korean e-sports leagues.

Industry Wants Funding Boost

Seoul has used Toto to help fund major sporting projects in the past. Some Toto funds, for instance, helped the nation prepare to co-host the 2002 World Cup.

The association pointed out that e-sports meets the criteria required to be a “modern professional sport,” with global leagues and club systems.

But, the body said, the sport “still requires public investment and institutional support for sustainable growth as an industry.”

The association said Toto could help secure a “stable” flow of financial resources to help esports grow in South Korea.

It added that approving the plan would also help attract overseas investment and promote convergence with other industrial sectors.

The DP has not yet committed to a stance on the body’s proposal. However, a member of the party’s video game committee said she agreed that steps needed to be taken to improve South Korean esports’ “international competitiveness.”

Sports Toto Korea, the national Toto operator, recently launched QR code identification services to expand its operations.

The post South Korea’s Esports Industry Wants Lawmakers to Green-light Toto Betting Proposal appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The Star reported that almost 100 officers and special agents conducted the raid. These included members of the police Anti-Vice, Gambling, and Secret Societies division and the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department. Police canine units and veterinarians also participated in the raid.

Cockfighting Raid: Police Hunt for More Suspects

Officers said 46 of the arrestees are Malaysian nationals. The remaining 78 are Indonesian passport holders, some of whom police think may be illegal immigrants.

The hunt is on for more gamblers and betting organizers, with police examining mobile phones they found at the scene in the hope of finding clues.

Police began probing the ring in October last year, tracing its operations to a heavily forested area near the town of Sungai Buloh, in the state of Selangor.

A spokesperson explained that officers used aerial drones to conduct surveillance prior to their surprise raid. They used the drones to plan the operation, entering the forest via an unmarked dirt road.

Police said they rescued 52 live birds from the scene. The birds are currently being cared for by the government’s Department of Veterinary Services pending a court ruling.

Officers also found the bodies of seven dead animals at the scene.

They confiscated several sets of steel cockfighting spurs and a scale used to weigh fighting birds. Officers say they think six of the Indonesian suspects organized the cockfights.

A Malaysian is believed to have masterminded the lottery. Officers also confiscated gambling equipment for a popular betting-based board game called bola golek and RM145,855 (over $34,000) in cash.

Suspects May Serve Three-Year Jail Sentences

Police are ready to charge the individuals with gambling law and animal welfare-related violations. Malaysian courts have the power to jail individuals who intentionally harm animals for up to three years.

Some arrestees will also face punishment under Malaysia’s immigration laws.

The spokesperson told citizens to report suspicious gatherings in forest areas, warehouses, and disused buildings, explaining: “Community vigilance is our strongest weapon. With the public’s help, we can prevent cruel cockfights. We must protect families from the social harm caused by illegal gambling.”

Last month, the Mexican state of Chiapas authorized the temporary return of regulated cockfighting following a backlash from residents opposing a ban.

The controversial sport remains popular in many parts of Mexico, where it has been awarded cultural heritage status.

Malaysian law prohibits most forms of onshore gambling, with the sole exception of a legal casino that operates in the Genting Highlands.

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The revelation comes as cities throughout the nation launch initiatives aimed at eliminating youth gambling.

Per a report from the South Korean news platform OhMyNews, the Korea Institute for Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment has conducted a nationwide survey on youth gambling.

The institute spoke to 13,368 students at 605 schools nationwide, and 4.3% of interviewees admitted to having gambled at least once.

The survey’s authors also found that 19.1% of the children they spoke to said they were now gambling habitually (for a period of six months or more).

Almost half of these habitual gamblers said they used someone else’s name when placing bets. And a quarter said they had also placed bets using proxy betting services.

These services include live streamers who gamble using virtual currency on online slot machines, placing bets on behalf of their viewers.

The survey’s authors noted that proxy betting rates are particularly high among middle schoolers.

South Korean Gambling Concerns Grow

The institute suggested that youth gambling addiction rates have risen in recent years, with an estimated 8.5% of minors admitted to having gambling addictions in 2019.

In 2022, that rose to 10.2%, with experts adding that this number likely rose above the 15% mark for the first time in 2022.

Government agencies, led by the Ministry of Education, have responded by declaring 12 – 18 May National Youth Gambling Protection Week.

Central and local government organs around the country have marked the week with various events.

These include workshops for children, with experts, former gambling addicts, and parents invited to speak.

They are also holding various musical performance events to raise awareness. Schools, meanwhile, will host lectures from school police officers and academics who specialize in paediatrics.

Younger Citizens Increasingly Drawn to Betting Sites

Yonhap reported that the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency has launched an annual anti-youth gambling drive.

The agency has partnered with Busan Metropolitan City, the city’s Office of Education, and the Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment Center.

The parties will launch regular campaigns to raise awareness and encourage various social groups to protect young people from gambling addiction.

Elsewhere, North Gyeongsang Province’s Education Department has launched a new training program to help school teachers join the fight against youth gambling addiction.

News1 added that the department has begun training 50 elementary and middle school teachers in the province.

The training sessions will create a province-wide gambling prevention “professionals” network.

Teachers will attend eight weeks of gambling prevention sessions. North Gyeongsang intends to train 50 new “professionals” every year.

Im Jong-sik, the North Gyeongsang Superintendent of Education, said: “Gambling is not just a problem for schools. It has become an issue for society as a whole. We will ensure that students grow up in a safe environment. We will provide continuous preventive education and a network of support systems.”

Earlier this month, the National Police Agency began an intensive crackdown on illegal gambling activities at hold ‘em pubs: venues that offer gambling-like experiences.

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The newspaper MBN reported that officers think the websites garnered billions of won in profits, with some of the money ending up in North Korea. One billion won is equal to around $704,00.

The newspaper quoted the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office-run Public Investigation Division stating that it is currently interrogating an unnamed man in his 50s.

North Korean Hackers Sent Software to Gambling Operator

The man has been retained in custody on suspicion of violating the terms of the National Security Act.

Prosecutors think the man first established contact with North Korean hackers in 2022. They say the parties communicated via the Telegram chat app.

Shortly after, officials claim, the man launched an illegal gambling site, using servers based in China. The hackers provided him with software to help build and run the site, prosecutors say.

Police launched a probe into the sites and the suspect earlier this year. And on May 7, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Security Investigation Unit swooped, sealing the arrest.

The prosecution plans to indict the man after investigating suspicions that he committed additional crimes.

Police Arrest ‘Proxy Gambling Live Streamer’

Meanwhile, the media outlet Newsis reported that police have arrested a live streamer who they think placed illegal bets on online slots platforms for his viewers.

The Jeju West Police Station, in the island province of Jeju, says it has handed the case over to the prosecution service.

The man (also unnamed and aged in his 40s) is suspected of gambling on behalf of viewers and exchanging virtual in-game currency for fiat.

Officers say the man and two suspected accomplice live streamers began placing bets for viewers in September 2023.

The trio used an office in Seoul as a broadcasting studio, police say, and continued offering proxy gambling and money exchange operations until officers conducted a raid in early April.

Police think the trio received several cash deposits worth 300 million won ($211,500) from their viewers, playing the machines on their behalf. If the streamers won, they would send the viewers the cash equivalent of their winnings.

The chief suspect also helped viewers buy and sell some 12.5 billion won ($8.8 million) virtual in-game currency. Officers think the chief suspect made around 3 billion won ($2.1 million) from the operation.

Manhunt Continues

Police said they arrested the man at an address in Seoul on April 9. Investigators added that they were also trying to track down more broadcast jockeys (live streamers) who they suspect of facilitating proxy gambling.

Officers are also trying to find some of the “high-stakes gamblers” who use broadcast jockeys to place bets on their behalf.

A spokesperson for the Jeju West Police Station said that the popularity of proxy betting games was on the rise in the province. The official added the force would “focus on cutting off criminal activity and illegal gambling at the source.”

Earlier this year, officers in Seoul arrested 37 people in a raid on a suspected illegal casino operating hub housed in a furniture store.

The country’s National Police Agency has also announced the launch of a third annual crackdown on hold ‘em pubs nationwide.

Thousands of hold ‘em pubs operate in the country, offering patrons casino-like experiences without supposedly allowing “real-money” betting.

Previous hold ‘em crackdowns have seen investigators charge 4,843 people with gambling or running illegal gambling establishments.

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