South Korea Intensifies Crackdown with Return of Casino Crime Suspects

A sweeping move which underscores both the scale of organised gambling operations in Asia as well as the increasing threat of cross-border crime is South Korean authorities dismantling an illicit casino network that funnelled the equivalent of KRW 44 billion through secretive online platforms over the past 18 months, to highlight the problem with cross-border crime in the region. 

A total of ten people, including seven of whom are facing criminal charges under the National Sport Promotion Act in Korea, have been arrested for orchestrating and managing the gambling ring, which originated in Cambodia, but managed to attract more than 11,000 users despite South Korea’s strict ban on online gambling. 

There have been several arrests of those involved in this network, including the alleged ringleader whose identity is still being withheld by investigators as they pursue more leads about the network’s overseas connections. This case not only demonstrates the government’s determination to curb illegal gambling but also intensifies debate around South Korea’s restrictive regulatory framework, which critics argue could become increasingly vulnerable as neighbouring jurisdictions liberalise their gambling laws and compete for market share with one another. 

The National Police Agency (NPA) also commented that the operation marked the largest overseas repat

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