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