South Korean police bust $31M gambling ring from Cambodia

• Police arrested ten individuals connected to a KRW 44bn online gambling operation based in Cambodia
• The syndicate recruited over 11,000 users and handled millions in transactions through baccarat and sports betting platforms
• Authorities seized KRW 270m in cash and froze additional funds whilst working with Interpol on the international investigation

South Korean authorities have dismantled a major illegal online gambling ring that operated from Cambodia and generated KRW 44bn ($31m) in transactions.

The Daegu National Police Agency’s Cybercrime Investigation Team arrested ten individuals on 10 September, including seven who remain in detention as the alleged masterminds behind the operation.

The gambling syndicate operated between February 2022 and July 2023, establishing a base in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to avoid South Korean law enforcement. The network attracted more than 11,000 users to platforms offering baccarat card games and illegal sports betting services, with approximately 10,000 South Korean citizens and 1,114 international bettors placing wagers.

Police discovered that the operators exploited tourist visas to travel frequently between South Korea and Cambodia, effectively evading detection by authorities. The group maintained a sophisticated structure overseeing financial transactions, member management and monitoring activities whilst promoting their services through Google advertisements and third-party advertising agencies.

“The site hosted real-time card games such as baccarat and also ran illegal sports books,” police said.

Officers revealed they had been monitoring the gambling operation since July 2023 as part of a digital surveillance investigation that led to charges under the National Sports Promotion Act for unauthorised betting and casino activities.

During the coordinated arrests, authorities seized KRW 270m ($194,570) in cash from the Cambodian office and froze an additional KRW 120m ($86,475) across various bank accounts. Police also secured arrest warrants and Interpol red notices before the arrests, whilst South Korea’s foreign ministry cancelled several suspects’ passports.

The international operation required extensive cooperation between South Korean police, the Cambodian Embassy in Seoul and Interpol officials. Four suspects were arrested upon arrival at Incheon International Airport after authorities learned in advance of their travel plans to South Korea.

Law enforcement has filed non-custodial charges against 174 people who participated in the network’s betting activities, demonstrating South Korea’s commitment to holding both operators and users accountable for illegal gambling activities. The crackdown forms part of a broader enforcement campaign running until 31 October that targets gambling operations spanning national borders.

This latest bust follows a pattern of South Korean authorities intensifying efforts against illegal gambling networks operating from overseas locations. Earlier this year, police dismantled another international gambling operation valued at $384m, whilst in June, authorities broke up an $18.2m gambling scheme that specifically targeted over 100 teenagers.