South Korea Seizes Over US$15 Million in Wagers from Jeju-Based Illegal Online Gambling Network

South Korean law-enforcement authorities, working via the Jeju Provincial Police Agency, recently dismantled an illegal online gambling network based on Jeju Island that handled approximately KRW 22.6 billion (roughly US$15.3 million) in wagers. The operation was uncovered after a multi-month investigation, and 21 people including the ringleader were arrested.

The gambling ring is said to have run its operations by converting PC cafés (“PC bangs”) and villa-type residences near schools on Jeju into illegal gambling dens. Its network specifically targeted high-school students and seafarers, and between October 2024 and July 2025 carried out significant wagering activity. In one reported instance, five teenagers were caught, including a student who borrowed KRW 11 million to gamble. 

Proceeds seized so far include KRW 250 million in criminal assets—while the total betting volume handled by the sites across the network is reported at KRW 22.6 billion. Police emphasised that lending bank accounts, transferring money on behalf of others, and facilitating wagering for minors also constitutes money-laundering and aiding illegal gambling operations. 

This latest bust comes amid a broader crackdown on illegal online gambling in South Korea. Earlier in 2025 authorities uncovered large-scale networks handling tens of billions of won in wagers and orchestrated from overseas jurisdictions such as Cambodia and Vietnam. The Jeju case highlights ongoing risks: operators exploiting legal gaps, using offline venues and vulnerable groups (like teenagers), and the challenge of cross-border enforcement.

For regulators and operators alike, the case underscores key priorities: reinforcing age verification and venue licensing, monitoring offline hubs such as PC cafés, and enhancing inter-agency as well as international cooperation. Meanwhile, the high level of youth involvement raises urgent concerns about problem gambling and calls for stronger preventive and treatment frameworks.