Illegal Gambling Site Amasses 170 Billion Won by Illegally Streaming Korea Racing Authority Videos

An illegal gambling site operation organization that used horse racing videos broadcasted by the Korea Racing Authority to attract gambling funds totaling approximately 170 billion won has been apprehended by the police.

An illegal gambling site operated by an organization that used horse racing videos broadcasted by the Korea Racing Authority without permission. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

The Detective Mobile Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 25th that it had arrested 18 organized crime members and 11 illegal gambling site operators on charges of establishing gambling venues and violating the Korea Racing Authority Act (illegal gambling operation). Of these, six individuals, including the ringleader and operators, have been detained.

According to the police, from December 2022 to November last year, the suspects set up an office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and illegally broadcasted real-time horse racing videos from the Korea Racing Authority, receiving gambling funds from gambling site members. The amount of gambling funds transferred by members to the organization has been confirmed to reach 170 billion won.

Investigations revealed that the illegal gambling site operators obtained real-time horse racing videos from the Korea Racing Authority through overseas companies and linked them to a criminal organization responsible for the deposit and withdrawal of gambling funds. In return, the operators paid the criminal organization a commission of 0.3 to 1% of the gambling funds.

Taking into account that Korean horse races are held only three days a week, they also streamed central and local horse races from Japan, effectively enabling gambling on the site almost every day. They recruited members by requesting horse racing YouTubers to promote the site or by sending random text advertisements to attract new members.

The police have secured approximately 540 million won in criminal proceeds through pre-indictment seizure. A police official stated, "All online horse racing sites except for those operated by the Korea Racing Authority are illegal," adding, "We will relentlessly track down illegal gambling site organizations and their associated money laundering networks to thoroughly recover criminal proceeds."