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Casino and gambling in South Korea
South Korea combines a modern economy, high levels of digitalization and one of Asia's strictest gambling regulatory systems.
Despite technological development, the gambling industry is almost completely closed for citizens of the country - the government sees social risk in gambling, not a source of income.
Yet for foreign tourists, South Korea offers dozens of legal casinos and integrated resorts, turning the industry into a tool for tourism development rather than mass entertainment.
Legislative framework and general status
Gambling is regulated by a number of laws, including:- Criminal Act (Article 246-247) - establishes responsibility for the participation of Korean citizens in gambling;
- Tourism Promotion Act (1961) - allows casinos for foreign tourists;
- Special Act on the Assistance to the Development of Abandoned Mine Areas (1995) - allowed the opening of the only casino for citizens of the country - Kangwon Land.
Permitted forms of gambling
Although most types of gambling are prohibited, there are a number of legal exceptions under state control:1. Casino for foreigners
There are 17 licensed casinos in the country, but only one - Kangwon Land - is available to South Korean citizens.
Casinos for foreigners are operated under license from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The main operators are:- Paradise Casino Seoul
- Seven Luck Casino
- Walkerhill Casino
- Grand Korea Leisure (GKL)
The total turnover of foreign casinos in 2024 exceeded ₩1,4 trillion ($1 billion).
Foreign tourists play freely, presenting a passport at the entrance.
Korean citizens caught playing in such establishments can be fined or sentenced to up to 3 years in prison.
2. Kangwon Land is an exception for local
Kangwon Land Casino, opened in 2000 in the mountainous province of Gangwon-do, is the only casino where South Korean citizens are allowed.
Limitations:- entry is allowed only once a day;
- age - from 19 years;
- strict limits on stay and rates;
- video surveillance and identification system is mandatory.
Despite the restrictions, Kangwon Land generates about 50% of all revenues for the country's gambling industry.
3. Lotteries and sports betting
Allowed and controlled by the state:- Sports Toto and Proto - betting on football, baseball, basketball and eSports;
- Korea Racing Authority (KRA) - horse racing betting management;
- Korea Lottery Commission is a national lottery created in 2002.
These types of gambling are legal and popular, bringing billions of won annually to the budget.
Online gambling and blocking
Online casinos are completely banned in South Korea.
Even foreign sites hosting players from Korea are considered illegal, and participation in them is a crime.
Control mechanisms:- the government, through the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), blocks tens of thousands of sites annually;
- banks and payment systems are required to cut off transactions related to gambling;
- police track users using VPNs or crypto payments to bypass locks.
- fine up to ₩10 million ($7,000);
- imprisonment up to 3 years.
Foreign offshore platforms
Despite strict measures, some South Korean users play on offshore platforms with licenses from Curacao, Malta and the Philippines.
Cryptocasinos working through USDT and Bitcoin are especially popular because they allow you to hide transactions.
However, the authorities have stepped up the fight against offshore sites:- in 2023-2024, more than 35,000 domains were blocked;
- over 2,000 people were arrested for organizing or participating in illegal online gambling;
- AI transaction monitoring has been introduced to recognize suspicious transfers.
Economic importance
Although gambling is limited for citizens, the industry has a significant contribution to the economy:- more than ₩2,5 trillion ($1.8 billion) in annual turnover;
- about 25,000 jobs;
- tourism and hospitality development;
- tax revenues of over ₩500 billion ($360 million) per year.
A special role is played by the Paradise Group, the largest casino operator that has integrated resorts with hotels and duty-free zones.
Responsible Gaming Policy
South Korea is one of Asia's leaders in player protection systems.
Key measures:- mandatory identification of each casino visitor;
- time limits and frequency of visits;
- the possibility of voluntary prohibition through the Self-Exclusion program;
- psychological support through the public service Korea Center on Gambling Problems (KCGP);
- educational campaigns against ludomania.
Future and liberalization
Although the government remains a tough opponent of domestic gambling, experts see the potential for limited legalization of IR resorts, following the example of Japan.
Planned:1. Creation of new integrated resorts with casinos for foreigners.
2. Development of smart entertainment zones with controlled rates.
3. Using blockchain technology to monitor transactions.
4. Development of "responsible gambling" platforms for citizens similar to European standards.
Taxation
These funds are directed to the fund for the development of tourism and sports, as well as to programs for the treatment of gambling addiction.
South Korea is an example of a tough but rational model for regulating gambling.
For citizens, gambling remains almost completely closed, and for foreigners - available within the framework of licensed resorts.
This approach allowed the country to maintain social stability and at the same time develop a profitable tourism industry.
In the future, South Korea may become one of the leaders in regulated and responsible gambling, combining technological control with international transparency standards.
