South Korean Police Raid ‘Illegal Gambling Den Disguised as Crypto Mining Center’

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South Korean Police Raid ‘Illegal Gambling Den Disguised as Crypto Mining Center’

South Korean police have raided a suspected illegal gambling den whose operator claimed it was a center for crypto mining.

The news agency Yonhap and the media outlet Asia Kyungjae reported that Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, announced on April 9 that officers are questioning the alleged den’s operator.

Officers are holding the operator on suspicions of violating the Game Industry Promotion Act.

South Korean Police Raid ‘Bogus Crypto Mining Center’

Officers said they had confiscated 50 gaming machines and two kiosks from what they called an “unregistered office” in the city.

Inside a suspected illegal gambling room in an office in Gwangsan, Gwangju. Police say they seized 50 gambling machines from a facility disguised as a crypto mining center.
Inside a suspected illegal gambling room in an office in Gwangsan, Gwangju. Police say they seized 50 gambling machines from a facility disguised as a crypto mining center. (Source: Gwangsan Police Station)

Police said that the operator had “modified” free mobile games so they could be played on PC terminals.

A police spokesperson claimed the operator charged players 50,000 won (around $34) per hour to play the games at the terminals.

The operator then allegedly paid out cash prizes to high-scoring players. Officers said that they estimated the room generated a total of 140 million won ($95,000) worth of illegal proceeds.

However, officers also said the premises “was disguised as a center for mining virtual currency” and “exchanging coins.”

Gwangsan District Office, in Gwangsan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea.
Gwangsan District Office, in Gwangsan, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. (Source: hyolee2 [CC BY-SA 4.0])

Search for ‘Accomplices’ Ongoing – Police

The police spokesperson added that investigators “plan to continue their probe” into the alleged gambling den.

They said that they were searching for possible “accomplices” who may have “assisted” the operator in committing the alleged crimes. The spokesperson concluded:

“We plan to crack down – continuously and resolutely – on illegal gaming rooms. These establishments pose a threat to the public economy. We will actively block illegal gaming centers from reopening or expanding their reach.”

In September last year, police officers in South Jeolla Province arrested seven suspects in a raid on a “crypto-powered drug dealing” ring.

Officers detained a suspected dealer, accusing them of “colluding with a drug distribution organization” to hide methamphetamine in 118 parts of Gwangju’s West and North districts.

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