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Tourism and law experts in South Korea are asking the government to create a central team to control gambling by Korean citizens in foreign countries. They believe that without a strong system, the country might face more problems like gambling addiction, unclear laws, and money loss.
Experts Speak at Big Seoul Event
This topic was discussed during a high-level meeting in Seoul on 11 June 2025. The meeting was hosted by The Korea Times and the Tourism Sciences Society of Korea (TOSOK). It included top researchers, government officials, and business leaders who all agreed that gambling outside Korea is growing fast and needs strict rules.
Need for Help from Interpol
Professor Lee Jae-seok from Gangneung-Wonju National University said that gambling overseas is not properly controlled under current Korean laws. He suggested working with Interpol to keep a closer watch and stop illegal gambling more effectively.
South Korea has some of the world’s strictest rules against gambling. Citizens are only allowed to gamble in very few places, like the Kangwon Land casino or at horse racing tracks. What’s more, even if someone gambles legally in another country, they can be punished in Korea if it’s done regularly or to make money.
Lee Jin-sik from the National Gambling Control Commission said, “Right now, there is no clear law that tells us when gambling abroad becomes illegal. We must create new rules to tell the difference between normal tourists and those who are gambling too much.”
Big Numbers Show the Problem
The numbers show just how serious the issue is. In 2017, Koreans spent ₩4.9 trillion (around €3.3 billion) on gambling overseas. That’s more than double what they spent in 2011.
But now, the focus is shifting from physical casinos to illegal online betting, which is growing even faster. From 2019 to 2023, the number of illegal betting cases through websites almost tripled, going from 13,000 to over 39,000. Online betting now makes up more than 80% of all illegal gambling in the country.
In 2023, the government looked into 48,648 reports related to illegal gambling. In just the first few months of 2024, they already received 32,309 reports, most of them about online gambling, underground casinos, and illegal sports betting.
Huge Money Lost in Illegal Gambling
From 2018 to 2022, money made from illegal gambling grew from ₩70 trillion to ₩102 trillion. That’s a 26% increase in just five years.
Online gambling is one of the biggest reasons behind this rise. According to data from Statista, the online gambling market in Korea will reach $879 million in 2024, and could go up to $967 million by 2025, growing over 5% every year.
Why a Task Force Is Needed Now
Experts say that if Korea doesn’t act fast and set up a special task force to handle this issue, the country might lose control. Without clear laws and one team to monitor gambling regularly, the problem may grow worse.
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