South Korean police charge 80 over a 590 billion won gambling money laundering network
Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency announced on 27 October that it had referred 80 people to prosecutors over a network accused of laundering 590 billion Korean won of illegal gambling money. Police say the group moved funds through 188 fake bank accounts between January 2025 and January 2026.
This is a Korean criminal case with no named South African link, but it shows how unlicensed gambling depends on payment channels that can be disguised. South African players who use offshore sites are exposed to the same underlying problem: money paid to an operator can pass through accounts the player cannot see. It is one more reason to use sites with a clear licence, to be careful about handing your bank account details to anyone, and to treat offers to "rent" your account for a fee as a serious legal risk.
What police announced
The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency said on 27 October that it had arrested 80 people on suspicion of breaching South Korea's Act on Regulation of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds. Of those, 22 were detained and handed to prosecutors, and 58 were referred without detention. The Chosun Daily reported the announcement.
Police say the group laundered 590 billion Korean won of illegal gambling funds between January of last year and January of this year, using 188 fake accounts to receive deposits and then moving the money on through further accounts.
How the network worked, according to police
Police describe a structured operation with four teams: an overall manager, a management team, a fund transfer team and an account supplier team. The manager, a man in his 20s linked to a Daegu organised crime group, is said to have negotiated terms with illegal gambling site operators and set the fees for using the fake accounts.
Investigators say the group moved office every month, covered windows with boxes and swapped out any account that was frozen or flagged as suspicious. More than half of the people referred were individuals who handed over their bank accounts in return for money.
Assets and the next step
Police said they seized luxury items worth 600 million won and preserved 2.6 billion won in suspected criminal proceeds before indictment so that it can be confiscated. A police official said the investigation into illegal gambling site operators and laundering groups will continue. These are police allegations at the referral stage; the suspects have not been convicted.
What it means for South African players
None of the people or sites involved are named as serving South African players. The takeaway is about payment safety. Regulated operators must verify who you are and where money comes from, which is the opposite of the fake account model described here.
- Never lend or sell your bank account or card to anyone.
- Be wary of any site that asks you to pay a private individual instead of the company.
- Check the licence details on our casino reviews and read what we say about FICA verification.
What to watch next
Watch for indictments and for any follow up on the gambling site operators who used the network. Korean police have pursued several large illegal gambling cases this year.