South Korean police have arrested several people involved in a massive illegal gambling network worth over ₩5.3 trillion (about 3.8 billion US dollars). The group ran its operations from the Philippines, using online casino platforms to attract gamblers across countries.

According to The Chosun Daily, the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Unit arrested 14 suspects and detained seven of them. Among those arrested is the main suspect, known only as Mr. A. The group is being charged with running illegal gambling websites and being part of an organized crime network.

Ringleader Operated While in Prison

Police reports revealed that Mr. A had been jailed before for similar gambling crimes. Surprisingly, he continued to run the operation while still behind bars in 2020. After completing his sentence, he decided to expand his illegal business.

Mr. A then hired a team of computer developers to build and manage a large network of online gambling websites. From November 2021 to March 2025, the team reportedly created around 266 websites. These websites streamed live casino games from well-known international gaming providers, making it look like they were running legal operations.

Huge Profits and International Links

Each of the website operators paid Mr. A around ₩3 million every month as what they called management fees. To make even more money, the group set up a vendor company in the Philippines. This company handled the casino video feeds and digital gaming currencies, buying them directly from foreign suppliers.

The business looked professional on the outside, but it was all part of an illegal gambling scheme. The scale of their operations shocked investigators. Police say the total money that moved through their system reached ₩5.3 trillion in just a few years.

During the raid, authorities seized ₩3.3 billion in cash and assets linked to the suspects. They also requested Interpol to issue Red Notices for two members of the gang who had escaped abroad.

Ongoing Investigation and Crackdown

The investigation began after police got information from a suspect who had earlier been arrested for a similar crime. This helped them uncover how the gang was organized and how they moved money between different countries.

Police in Gangwon Province said they are still tracing the group’s hidden assets and looking for more members who may be involved. A police officer also mentioned that more arrests will likely be made as the investigation continues. They are also working closely with financial experts to trace how the money was moved and hidden across different accounts.

Authorities explained that they are making more efforts to stop cross-border gambling crimes, which are increasing due to online platforms. They said they will keep working with international agencies to track down these networks and recover more illegal funds.