Seoul jails 3 men over North Korea gambling-site scheme
A fourth man, the scheme’s ringleader, was sentenced to 5 years earlier.
The hit
Three South Korean men have been jailed for helping North Korean hackers build & sell illegal gambling websites, according to Casino.org. The Seoul Central District Court handed one man four years & two accomplices three years each on Thursday. The network reportedly sold 16 illegal gambling sites to South Korean operators between 2022 & 2024, according to Yonhap.
Why it matters
The case shows North Korea reportedly using the scheme to generate millions of dollars for the cash-strapped state, with hackers linked to its Reconnaissance General Bureau & General Bureau 313. For bettors & operators in South Korea, it underlines how illegal sites marketed on platforms like X & Telegram can trace back to North Korean intelligence operations.
The record
| Total scheme proceeds | 23.5 billion won / $17.6m (Yonhap) |
|---|---|
| Sent to North Korean hackers | More than 7 billion won / $5.2m, around 30% of proceeds (Yonhap) |
| Ringleader’s sentence | 5 years (Casino.org) |
| North Korea’s estimated annual cyber proceeds | $866m in 2016, from online gambling, software sales & other illegal cyber businesses (researcher Yu Dong-yeol) |
What happens next
Watch for further South Korean prosecutions tied to North Korea-linked gambling software rings, after Seoul’s National Intelligence Service exposed a similar Dandong-based operation in 2024.
Sources: North Korean Hackers Earned Millions Building Illegal Gambling Websites
Named in this story? Reply to newsdesk@infobets.com & we publish it.
18+. Betting involves risk. If gambling is a problem for you or someone close to you, help is available.
Work with BH Group. Paid ads that get iGaming & crypto brands players & users, in the GEOs you choose. Get a plan
Discussion
Ask a question, add useful context or share a source. Keep it relevant & respectful.
Add a comment
Comments are reviewed before publication.