TLDR
- A gambling ring run from Vietnam processed about 63 billion won ($46 million) in bets over roughly 10 months.
- Korean police referred 13 alleged operators and 105 high-stakes users to prosecutors.
- The site offered baccarat, slot games and sports betting to Korean users.
- Investigators traced the operation through more than 200 bank accounts.
- The suspected ringleader fled the country and remains at large.
South Korean police have shut down a large illegal gambling operation that was run out of an office in Vietnam. The Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency said the group processed about 63 billion won, or roughly $46 million, in bets over about 10 months.
Police have referred 13 alleged operators and 105 high-stakes users to prosecutors for further action. The case has been building since a tip came in last year.
How the Operation Worked
The group began running the site in April 2024. It offered baccarat, slot games and sports betting, all aimed at Korean users.
Gambling is broadly prohibited in South Korea, so the site was built to look like an ordinary online betting platform. That design helped it blend in and attract users without raising immediate suspicion.
Operators brought users in through text messages and banner ads. Once someone signed up, they deposited money into accounts tied to the site.
Investigators believe the operators kept whatever money players lost. Over time, this added up to tens of billions of won.
Police say the full scale of the activity only became clear once they traced the financial network connected to the site.
Investigators Track the Money
The investigation started in September 2025 after police received a tip about the operation. From there, officers began digging into transaction records.
They examined more than 200 bank accounts believed to be linked to the gambling ring. That financial trail eventually led them to the people managing the site.
Through this process, investigators identified 3,553 users who had deposited money into the platform. Total deposits from these users reached 63 billion won.
One user alone wagered as much as 1.3 billion won. That figure highlights how much money moved through individual accounts tied to the operation.
From the full list of users, police selected 105 people who had placed particularly large bets. These users were referred to prosecutors along with the alleged operators.
The charges against them include running an illegal gambling venue. They also include violations of South Korea’s National Sports Promotion Act.
Police worked to track down everyone connected to running the site. They managed to apprehend all but one of the suspected operators.
The person believed to be the ringleader had already left the country by the time police closed in. Officers say that individual is still overseas.
Authorities are continuing efforts to locate and track the missing suspect. The case against the other operators and users is moving forward through the courts.
Separately, police obtained a court order to freeze funds tied to the case. The frozen amount totals 186.35 million won.
That figure is only a small part of the total money that moved through the operation. Investigators say it reflects funds they can currently link directly to criminal activity ahead of indictment.
The case remains open. Police continue to search for the fugitive suspect while reviewing financial records tied to the operation.
