South Korea has been taking a harder look at illegal gambling operations, holding players and operators accountable for either participating or hosting such activities. In its latest bust, South Korea’s National Office of Investigation (NOI) reported that it had been able to arrest 2,925 people connected with illegal gambling.

Droves of South Korean Teenagers Are Gambling Illegally

All of these arrests had been effectuated over a six-month period prior to NOI’s report, and the country is now launching a second six-month campaign in May, that will seek to arrest more people connected with facilitating illegal gambling.

In the latest bust, some 1,035 teenagers were arrested, indicating that there is a strong proliferation of illegal gambling services among youngsters who tend to be the most vulnerable when it comes to games of chance. Despite the risks, youths have been partial to gambling in South Korea, and have mostly been nonplussed by its illegal status in the country.

NOI said that 566 teenagers had been sent for counseling, as young people need to be set on a recovery path right away. However, leniency has not been shown to all. A total of 12 teenagers were actually apprehended on suspicion of having operated online gambling platforms themselves, and at least six teenagers are said to have promoted these websites, whether through affiliates or in some other way.

A total of $44.9 million had been seized from illegal gambling businesses and players during the course of the six-month operation. NOI also said that peer influence played a huge role in helping illegal gambling websites proliferate, as teenagers saw and embraced gambling from their peers or at school, although social media does have a part to play.

The majority of teenagers arrested were actually interested in baccarat rather than online casinos. For example, 41.9% prefer this specific card game against just 17.1% for those favoring online casinos. At least 19.8% of those gambling gambled on sports, and another 14.7% enjoyed online slots.

Young People Affected by Gambling – But by How Much?

The data revealed by NOI is worrying as it points to a very high incidence of gambling participation among young people in the country, but it’s also a solid basis to address and further direct resources to help protect youths.

Studies from all over the world have shown that regulating gambling has generally made it easier to track the rate of gambling participation among young people. Bringing more gambling options may have prompted some youths to gamble more, but it has also made it much simpler to track their participation and inform public debate and political action.

 South Korea does not allow any form of online gambling, which has made players seek alternatives such as offshore or illegal gambling sites. Those, however, may be contributing to a gambling problem that is festering. According to a study conducted in 2022, the level of gambling addiction in the country was 5.5% but the actual numbers could be much higher.

Last year, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family began offering 12-day rehabilitation programs to help young addicts recover.

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Against all reason, a Chinese man put all of his eggs in the same basket, buying over 50,000 lottery tickets and entering the same numbers on all of them. Fortunately for him, his combination turned out to be a winning one, netting him millions of dollars.

The player, who preferred to remain anonymous, is a resident of Nanchang. The man described himself as a regular lottery player who would often invest thousands of Yuan in lottery tickets. Believed to have spent as much as a million throughout his five years of playing, the man has finally struck gold.

According to reports, the player visited many shops across Nanchang, buying out all available Happy 8 tickets and putting the same numbers on all of them. In total, the man bought over 50,000 tickets, entering the following combination on each single one: 40, 41, 42, 44, 63, 64 and 65.

When this combination secured a prize of CNY 4,475 (roughly $628), all of the tickets became winners. As a result, he scooped a grand total of around $30 million.

The man claimed his prize a few days later, which is when he disclosed that he was a regular lottery player who would often buy tickets in bulk.

The news quickly became viral on Chinese social media. While some were happy about the man, many thought that something must be going on. The confidence with which the man spent thousands of Yuan on lottery tickets caused many to be suspicious of his win.

Many people were skeptical and questioned the legitimacy of the win, thinking that it might have been a part of some fix. Some suggested that the player might have had insider information that helped him enter the correct combination and take hundreds of millions of Yuan home.

Certain people went as far as suggesting that the situation might have been set up by the Chinese government as a way to channel people toward the lottery. However, the Chinese Welfare Lottery did not report the case officially, which may be proof that the win was genuine.

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A comprehensive effort aimed at curbing illegal online gambling and lottery activities saw Malaysian authorities arrest 1,871 individuals. The operation, known as Special Op Dadu, spanned two weeks, with nationwide raids executed between 22 September and 5 October. The crackdown highlighted the government’s rising vigilance against illegal gambling as it tries to safeguard regulated operators.

Decisive Action Netted Impressive Success

Malaysia’s Special Op Dadu operation, coordinated by Shuhaily Zainthe, director of the Criminal Investigations Department at Bukit Aman headquarters, focused on eliminating illegal online gambling and lottery betting. During a press conference, Zain provided insight into the operation’s outcomes, detailing the significant progress made during these two weeks.

A total of 1,871 individuals were apprehended as part of the operation, comprising 1,599 men and 312 women. The arrested individuals ranged in age from 20 to 60 years old. Among those arrested, several were allegedly involved in public lotteries and purchasing lottery tickets. Authorities have already brought many perpetrators to court, and investigations are still ongoing.

As of 5 October, a total of 382 investigation papers involving online gambling and illegal lottery were solved and charged in court.

Shuhaily Zainthe, Bukit Aman headquarters criminal Investigations Department director

Throughout the operation, Malaysian authorities conducted numerous raids that culminated in the seizure of various assets used for illegal gambling activities. The items confiscated included cash, computer equipment, and mobile phones. The total estimated value of the seized assets amounted to RM 13,000 (approximately $2750) for online gambling and RM 680,000 ($143,808) for illegal lottery activities.

A Safe and Regulated Market Has Significant Benefits

Although 1,362 additional cases related to these activities remain open, 43 investigation papers resulted in “no further action.” The operation nevertheless marks a significant milestone in the Malaysian government’s efforts to curb illegal gambling in the country, which has become an endemic issue. While 2022 had multiple minor arrests, Special Op Dadu’s scale sets a new precedent.

This crackdown should have significant implications for Malaysia’s gambling sector, giving licensed operators increased confidence to conduct business. The region has enjoyed a quick post-COVID recovery, focusing on attracting foreign tourists with high-profile integrated resorts like Genting Malaysia. While black market gambling primarily affects locals, effective regulation enforcement remains paramount for investor confidence.

Special Op Dadu likely represents the first significant step in a broader plan to remedy Malaysia’s gambling sector. Cooperation with law enforcement remains paramount in upholding the law and protecting citizens from illicit gambling operations. While the country’s illegal market remains deeply entrenched, ongoing efforts have demonstrated that progress is possible.

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The prominent operator has teamed up with Platipus, an established studio and developer of online slot content, which will boost the operator’s more than 5,000-game-strong library. Platipus was established in 2014 and it has been one of the most prolific studios in the iGaming sector.

NetBet Brings Platipus Games to Its Library

The company has developed well over 150 titles, among which are such hits as Chilli Fiesta, Royal Lotus, Wild Spin, and others. NetBet is happy to carry forth with this partnership as it allows it to add variety once again to its constantly improving and growing library of titles.

Commenting on this opportunity, NetBet PR Claudia Georgevici has said that her company provides an array of experiences that will resonate with players who are part of the operator’s growing community.

NetBet has been in the game for 20 years now with the operator growing rapidly on the content front. Over the past several weeks, NetBet has been able to bring home a string of similar partnerships designed to significantly increase its presence in iGaming.

The operator teamed up with CT Interactive and Inspired Entertainment in the space of just a few weeks this month, making its latest partnership with Platipus part of the company’s busiest months in terms of content alliances.

NetBet has a strong focus on the European market, and Italy in particular, but it has also been growing elsewhere. Romania, a fast-evolving iGaming landscape, has piqued the company’s interest with 7777 launching more than 50 of its games with NetBet in the country

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