Articles on Gambling in South Korea
Welcome to our comprehensive collection of educational articles about gambling in South Korea. This resource provides in-depth analysis, historical context, legal frameworks, and policy discussions covering all aspects of gambling regulation, enforcement, and social impact in Korea.
Our articles are written from an educational and research perspective, providing factual information for journalists, students, researchers, policymakers, and anyone seeking to understand the complex landscape of gambling in South Korea.
Historical Context
The History of Gambling in Korea
Explore the deep historical roots of gambling in Korean culture, from traditional games like yunnori and hwatu during the Joseon Dynasty to modern gaming regulations. Learn how centuries of cultural attitudes and legal prohibitions have shaped today's regulatory landscape.
Read ArticleLegal Framework
South Korean Gambling Laws Explained
Comprehensive explanation of South Korea's gambling legal framework, including Article 246 of the Criminal Act, exceptions for authorized gambling, and the regulatory structure governing legal gambling operations. Essential reading for understanding Korean gambling law.
Read ArticleKorea Lottery System: Sports Toto, Lotto 6/45, and Legal Betting
Complete guide to South Korea's legal lottery system including Lotto 6/45, Sports Toto, pension lottery, and scratch cards. Covers history, regulations, odds, prize structures, and how these legal gambling options compare to prohibited activities.
Read ArticleConvenience Store Lottery: CU, GS25, and 24/7 Gambling Access Points
How Korean convenience stores serve as the primary lottery distribution network. Analysis of CU, GS25, 7-Eleven lottery sales, scratch card access, age verification challenges, and the role of pyeonuijeom in normalizing gambling behavior across South Korea.
Read ArticleThe Future of Gambling Regulation in Korea
Analytical examination of emerging trends in Korean gambling regulation. Explore technological challenges, international pressure, policy debates, and potential regulatory scenarios including online gambling regulation, integrated resorts, and enforcement evolution.
Read ArticleHorse Racing and Legal Racing Bets in South Korea
Comprehensive guide to legal racing bets in South Korea including horse racing at Korea Racing Authority tracks, motorboat racing, and velodrome cycling. Covers betting formats, odds, takeout rates, and how racing fits into Korea's legal gambling framework.
Read ArticleGambling and the Korean Court System: Criminal Prosecution and Defense
Comprehensive guide to the Korean criminal justice system for gambling offenses. Covers arrest procedures, prosecution decisions, court proceedings, defense strategies, sentencing guidelines, and long-term consequences of gambling convictions.
Read ArticleGambling and Immigration: Visa Implications, Foreign Workers, and Deportation Risks
Comprehensive guide to how gambling affects immigration status in South Korea covering visa implications for E-2, F-4, and other visa holders, deportation risks, re-entry bans, and legal consequences for foreign workers and residents who engage in illegal gambling.
Read ArticleGambling and Professional Licenses: Medical, Legal, Financial, and Teaching Credentials
Comprehensive guide to how gambling convictions affect professional licenses in South Korea. Covers medical doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, pilots, and financial professionals including licensing requirements, disciplinary procedures, and reinstatement pathways.
Read ArticleGambling and Taxation: Income Tax on Winnings, Reporting Requirements, and International Implications
Comprehensive guide to gambling taxation in South Korea covering income tax on lottery, casino, and racing winnings, withholding requirements, reporting thresholds, and international tax implications. Explains why gambling losses are non-deductible and how Korean tax law compares globally.
Read ArticleSports Betting Expansion Debate: Legalization Arguments, International Models, and Policy Proposals
Comprehensive analysis of the sports betting expansion debate in South Korea examining legalization arguments, international regulatory models from UK, US, and Singapore, current Sports Toto limitations, and potential policy reform scenarios. Essential reading on gambling reform debates.
Read ArticleGambling Age Restrictions: Legal Age, Verification, and Enforcement
Complete guide to gambling age requirements in South Korea covering the legal gambling age of 19, ID verification systems at casinos, lottery and horse racing venues, penalties for underage gambling, and international comparisons. Essential reading for tourists and researchers.
Read ArticleCasinos and Physical Gambling
Why Kangwon Land Is the Only Legal Casino
Detailed analysis of Kangwon Land, South Korea's unique casino where Korean citizens can legally gamble. Covers its establishment as an economic development tool, operations generating nearly $1 billion annually, expansion plans, and social impacts on the surrounding community.
Read ArticleForeigner-Only Casinos: Paradise Casino, Seven Luck & Grand Korea Leisure
Complete guide to South Korea's 16 foreigner-only casinos including Paradise Casino, Seven Luck, and Grand Korea Leisure. Covers locations in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, and Jeju, entry requirements, gaming options, and how Korea's two-tier casino system operates.
Read ArticleVIP and High-Roller Gambling: Premium Gaming, Junkets, and Whale Programs
Comprehensive analysis of VIP gambling in South Korea covering high-roller programs at Kangwon Land, junket operations, international whale circuits in Macau and Singapore, and the legal, financial, and regulatory challenges of premium gambling for Korean high-stakes players.
Read ArticleIntegrated Resorts in South Korea: IR Development and Casino Expansion
Comprehensive analysis of integrated resort (IR) development in South Korea covering the casino expansion debate, Yeongjong Island proposals, Paradise City, comparisons with Japan's IR model and Singapore, and the regulatory challenges facing Korean gambling policy reform.
Read ArticleCasino Design Psychology: How Gambling Venues Manipulate Player Behavior
Comprehensive analysis of casino design psychology examining how gambling venues use architecture, lighting, sounds, and layout to influence player behavior. Covers slot machine manipulation, temporal disorientation, environmental controls, and protection strategies for informed gamblers.
Read ArticleJeju Island Casinos: Special Tourism Zone, Foreigner Casinos, and Development
Complete guide to the 8 casinos on Jeju Island, South Korea's special self-governing province. Covers Paradise Jeju, Landing Casino, Jeju Dream Tower, Chinese tourism impact, integrated resort development, and the unique regulatory framework governing Korea's casino hub.
Read ArticlePoker in South Korea: Texas Hold'em, Legal Status, and Underground Scene
Complete guide to poker in South Korea covering the legal framework for Texas Hold'em, underground poker rooms, online poker restrictions, Korean poker professionals on the international circuit, and comparison with global poker regulation. Educational analysis of poker's unique position in Korean gambling culture.
Read ArticleOnline and Digital Gambling
Offshore Casinos and Legal Risks
Comprehensive guide to online gambling in South Korea covering offshore casino operations, legal prohibitions, enforcement mechanisms, financial tracking, and penalties. Explains why online gambling is illegal and how the government attempts to prevent it.
Read ArticleCS2 & Skin Gambling in Korea Explained
Educational explanation of CS2 skin gambling and esports betting in the Korean context. Covers how virtual item gambling operates, legal ambiguities, enforcement challenges, and why this form of gambling occupies a gray zone in Korean law.
Read ArticleEsports Betting vs Traditional Gambling in Korea
Comprehensive comparison of esports betting and traditional gambling in South Korea. Analyzes legal frameworks, market dynamics, demographics, enforcement challenges, and cultural differences between these two forms of wagering under Korean law.
Read ArticleCryptocurrency and Gambling in South Korea
Comprehensive analysis of how cryptocurrency intersects with gambling in South Korea. Covers crypto regulations, the Travel Rule, VASP requirements, blockchain analysis enforcement, and why crypto-based gambling remains illegal despite perceived anonymity.
Read ArticleSocial Casino Games in South Korea: Free-to-Play Apps and Gateway Risks
Comprehensive analysis of social casino games in South Korea examining free-to-play mobile apps, virtual currency mechanics, regulatory gray zones, and research on gateway effects to real gambling. Covers loot boxes, gacha systems, and protecting vulnerable populations.
Read ArticleLoot Boxes and Gacha Games: Probability Disclosure Laws and Regulation
Comprehensive guide to loot box and gacha game regulation in South Korea. Covers mandatory probability disclosure requirements, the Game Industry Promotion Act, enforcement actions against major game companies, the gambling classification debate, and psychological impacts on players.
Read ArticlePC Bangs and Gambling: Internet Cafes, Online Access, and Enforcement Challenges
Comprehensive guide to PC Bangs (internet cafes) and gambling in South Korea examining how these iconic gaming venues intersect with illegal online gambling, enforcement challenges, youth vulnerability, VPN circumvention, and regulatory debates about operator responsibility.
Read ArticleTelegram Gambling in South Korea: Illegal Betting Channels and Enforcement
Comprehensive guide to Telegram gambling in South Korea covering illegal betting channels, sports betting operations, cryptocurrency gambling, organized crime connections, enforcement challenges, and legal risks for participants using encrypted messaging platforms.
Read ArticleVR and Metaverse Gambling: Emerging Technologies and Regulatory Challenges
Comprehensive guide to virtual reality and metaverse gambling in South Korea examining VR casinos, NFT gambling, Web3 platforms, blockchain-based betting, decentralized gambling protocols, unique addiction risks, enforcement challenges, and the legal status of immersive gambling technologies.
Read ArticleFantasy Sports and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS): Legal Status and Gray Areas
Comprehensive guide to fantasy sports and daily fantasy sports (DFS) in South Korea covering legal classification under gambling laws, international operators like FanDuel and DraftKings, the skill vs chance debate, VPN access risks, and why Korea has not legalized fantasy sports despite global trends.
Read ArticleInternet Gaming Disorder and Gambling: The Gaming-Gambling Connection
Comprehensive guide to the relationship between internet gaming disorder and gambling addiction in South Korea. Covers WHO ICD-11 classification, neurological similarities, loot boxes, gacha mechanics, PC bang culture, and Korea's pioneering treatment infrastructure for dual addiction.
Read ArticlePrediction Markets in South Korea: Polymarket, Kalshi, and Legal Status
Comprehensive guide to prediction markets in South Korea covering platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, legal classification under gambling law, cryptocurrency prediction markets, election betting, and why information betting is treated the same as traditional gambling.
Read ArticleGambling and Live Streaming: Twitch, AfreecaTV, and Casino Streams
Comprehensive analysis of gambling live streaming in South Korea covering Twitch casino streams, AfreecaTV gambling content, the 2022 Twitch gambling ban, sponsorship regulations, youth exposure concerns, parasocial relationships, and legal implications for streamers and viewers.
Read ArticleOnline Gambling Site Blocking: KCSC, DNS Filtering, VPN Crackdowns, and Internet Censorship
Comprehensive analysis of how South Korea blocks online gambling sites through DNS filtering, HTTPS SNI inspection, IP blocking, and VPN enforcement. Covers the KCSC's role, technical blocking methods, public debate over internet censorship, and the legal risks of circumvention.
Read ArticleEnforcement and Penalties
Penalties, Arrests, and Government Crackdowns
Detailed examination of how South Korea enforces gambling prohibitions. Covers famous illegal gambling raids, arrest statistics, penalty structures, prosecution patterns, and the government's increasingly sophisticated enforcement mechanisms including financial surveillance and international cooperation.
Read ArticleUnderground Gambling in South Korea: Secret Dens and Police Raids
Comprehensive exposé of underground gambling in South Korea, from private card rooms to sophisticated illegal casino dens. Explores organized crime connections, police investigation methods, major raid operations, and the human cost of unregulated gambling markets.
Read ArticleCelebrity Gambling Scandals: Athletes, K-Pop Stars, and Public Figures
High-profile gambling scandals involving Korean celebrities, K-Pop idols, professional athletes, and public figures. Examines legal consequences, career impacts, match-fixing in sports, overseas gambling prosecutions, and cultural attitudes toward public figures who gamble.
Read ArticleMilitary Gambling in South Korea: Soldiers and Conscription
Comprehensive analysis of gambling among South Korean military personnel under mandatory conscription. Covers military law, disciplinary measures, the smartphone policy impact, treatment resources, and the unique vulnerabilities of Korea's 500,000 active-duty soldiers.
Read ArticleIllegal Gambling Advertising: Marketing Tactics and Crackdowns
Comprehensive analysis of how illegal gambling operations advertise to Korean users, from spam messages and social media ads to influencer partnerships and referral networks. Covers government counter-measures, legal penalties, and how to protect yourself from gambling advertising.
Read ArticleMatch-Fixing in Korean Sports: Gambling Corruption and Prevention
Comprehensive analysis of match-fixing scandals in Korean baseball, football, and esports. Covers how illegal gambling operations recruit athletes, detection and prosecution methods, legal consequences, and prevention measures protecting sports integrity.
Read ArticleGambling Scams: Fraudulent Betting Tips, Rigged Games, and Consumer Protection
Comprehensive guide to gambling scams targeting Koreans including fraudulent betting tip services, rigged online casinos, fake apps, and social media scams. Covers how to identify fraud, reporting channels, recovery options, and consumer protection resources.
Read ArticleGambling and Romance Scams: Pig Butchering Schemes and Crypto Investment Fraud
Comprehensive guide to romance scams connected to gambling in South Korea covering pig butchering schemes, cryptocurrency casino investment fraud, victim targeting patterns through dating apps, psychological manipulation tactics, and victim protection resources.
Read ArticleGambling and Financial Services: Banking Restrictions, Payment Blocking, and Credit Cards
Comprehensive guide to how South Korea uses financial infrastructure to combat illegal gambling. Covers banking restrictions, payment blocking, credit card regulations, cryptocurrency surveillance, suspicious transaction reporting, and the role of financial institutions in gambling enforcement.
Read ArticleGambling and Artificial Intelligence: Detection Systems and Regulatory Technology
Comprehensive guide to how South Korea uses AI and machine learning to combat illegal gambling. Covers website detection, facial recognition at casinos, financial transaction analysis, problem gambling prediction, and the future of regulatory technology in gambling enforcement.
Read ArticleProxy Gambling and Nominee Betting: Straw Bettors and Organized Crime
Comprehensive analysis of proxy gambling in South Korea covering straw bettors (daeriin), nominee betting schemes at foreigner-only casinos, organized crime connections, VIP junket operations, legal penalties for both principals and proxies, and enforcement challenges.
Read ArticleGambling and Money Laundering: AML Regulations, FATF Compliance, and Financial Crime Prevention
Comprehensive guide to gambling and money laundering in South Korea covering casino AML regulations, FATF compliance, KYC requirements, suspicious transaction reporting, and how Korean casinos prevent financial crimes. Covers both Kangwon Land and foreigner-only casino requirements.
Read ArticleGambling and Organized Crime: Jopok Syndicates, Criminal Networks, and Law Enforcement
Comprehensive guide to the intersection of gambling and organized crime in South Korea covering jopok syndicates, yakuza connections, underground gambling operations, loan sharking networks, cross-border criminal ties, and law enforcement strategies to combat gambling-related organized crime.
Read ArticleGambling and Korean Police: Corruption, Internal Affairs, and Enforcement Ethics
Comprehensive analysis of gambling-related police corruption in South Korea covering internal affairs investigations, bribery patterns, disciplinary actions, pension forfeiture, the ethics of gambling enforcement, and oversight mechanisms designed to combat misconduct in the Korean National Police Agency.
Read ArticleSocial Impact and Resources
Gambling Addiction Statistics in South Korea: Prevalence, Demographics, and Trends
Comprehensive statistical reference on problem gambling in South Korea including national prevalence rates (5.1%), demographic breakdowns, treatment statistics, economic impact figures, and international comparisons. Data from NGCC, KPGA, WHO, and academic sources.
Read ArticleElderly Gambling in South Korea: Senior Citizens, Retirement, and Age-Specific Patterns
Comprehensive analysis of gambling among elderly South Koreans examining the growing crisis as Korea becomes a super-aged society. Covers retirement factors, social isolation, financial insecurity, Kangwon Land patterns, and age-specific treatment resources.
Read ArticleGambling in Rural Korea: Agricultural Communities, Regional Disparities, and Access Patterns
Comprehensive analysis of gambling in rural South Korea covering agricultural communities, regional access disparities, Kangwon Land's impact on Gangwon Province, farming population vulnerabilities, and limited treatment access. Essential reading on the urban-rural gambling divide.
Read ArticleGambling and Healthcare Workers: Nurses, Doctors, and Medical Professional Vulnerabilities
Comprehensive analysis of gambling risks among Korean healthcare workers including nurses, doctors, and medical staff. Covers shift work stress, burnout factors, professional licensing consequences, and confidential treatment resources for medical professionals.
Read ArticleGambling and Construction Workers: Daily Laborers, Cash Economy, and Occupational Vulnerabilities
Comprehensive analysis of gambling risks among Korean construction workers including daily laborers (illyong-jik). Covers cash wage payments, occupational stress, underground gambling, geographic factors, and industry-specific treatment barriers and resources.
Read ArticleGambling and Taxi Drivers: Night Shift Risks, Cash Economy, and Occupational Vulnerabilities
Comprehensive analysis of gambling risks among Korean taxi drivers including night shift vulnerabilities, cash fare systems, ride-hailing disruption stress, taxi stand gambling culture, and industry-specific treatment barriers and resources.
Read ArticleGambling and Education: Campus Gambling, Student Financial Risks, and University Prevention
Comprehensive analysis of gambling among Korean university students covering campus gambling culture, the freshman vulnerability window, financial pressures, academic consequences, and university-based prevention and intervention programs.
Read ArticleWomen and Gambling in South Korea: Gender-Specific Patterns and Treatment
Comprehensive analysis of female gambling in South Korea examining rising participation rates, distinct gambling patterns, intense social stigma, treatment barriers, and gender-specific support resources. Essential reading for understanding the underreported female gambling population.
Read ArticleYouth Gambling Addiction Crisis: Statistics, Causes, and Prevention
Alarming analysis of South Korea's youth gambling crisis with 2024 statistics showing teen gambling cases tripled since 2020. Covers causes, the shift to online casino gambling, treatment programs, and prevention strategies for protecting Korean youth.
Read ArticleParenting Guide to Gambling Prevention: Warning Signs, Monitoring, and Protection
Complete guide for Korean parents on protecting children from gambling. Learn warning signs of youth gambling, digital monitoring strategies, age-appropriate conversations about gambling risks, and how to respond if you discover your child has been gambling.
Read ArticleRisks, Addiction, and Help Resources
Comprehensive resource on gambling addiction in South Korea covering prevalence rates, risk factors, social costs, warning signs, and available support services. Includes contact information for treatment centers, support organizations, and crisis intervention services.
Read ArticleGambling Debt in Korea: Legal Consequences and Debt Relief
Comprehensive analysis of gambling debt in South Korea covering legal enforceability, debt collection practices, loan sharks (sajae), bankruptcy options, family impact, and recovery resources. Essential reading for those affected by gambling-related financial problems.
Read ArticleGambling and Bankruptcy: Personal Bankruptcy, Rehabilitation, and Legal Debt Relief
Comprehensive guide to gambling-related bankruptcy in South Korea covering personal bankruptcy procedures, individual rehabilitation, eligibility requirements, court processes, non-dischargeable debts, loan shark debt, credit consequences, and alternatives to formal insolvency.
Read ArticleGambling and Corporate Embezzlement: Financial Crime, Detection, and Prevention
Comprehensive analysis of how problem gambling leads to workplace embezzlement in South Korea. Covers the gambling-embezzlement connection, detection methods, criminal penalties under Articles 355-356, corporate prevention strategies, and intervention before prosecution.
Read ArticleGambling and Social Welfare: Government Benefits, Poverty Cycle, and Support Systems
Comprehensive guide to how gambling affects social welfare eligibility in South Korea covering Basic Livelihood Security, National Health Insurance, poverty-gambling cycle, child welfare concerns, employment support programs for recovering gamblers, and financial recovery resources.
Read ArticleGambling and Disability: Vulnerability, Accessibility, and Support
Comprehensive guide to gambling and disability in South Korea covering vulnerability factors for people with physical, cognitive, and psychiatric disabilities, the accessibility paradox at gambling venues, treatment barriers, and specialized support resources for disabled gamblers.
Read ArticleGambling and Credit Score: Credit Ratings, Financial Rehabilitation, and Long-Term Impacts
Comprehensive guide to how gambling affects credit scores in South Korea covering credit rating systems (KCB, NICE), bank transaction monitoring, credit card restrictions, financial rehabilitation pathways, and long-term credit recovery strategies for problem gamblers.
Read ArticleGambling and Real Estate: Property Loss, Foreclosure, and Jeonse Crisis
Comprehensive guide to how gambling addiction affects real estate in South Korea covering property foreclosure, jeonse deposit loss, housing fraud, family home loss, loan shark property seizure, and recovery resources for gambling-related housing problems.
Read ArticleGambling and Suicide Prevention: Crisis Intervention and Mental Health
Critical analysis of the connection between problem gambling and suicide in South Korea covering risk factors, warning signs, crisis intervention resources, and pathways to recovery. Includes emergency contact information and support for families.
Read ArticleGambling Treatment and Rehabilitation: Centers, Programs, and Recovery
Comprehensive guide to gambling addiction treatment infrastructure in South Korea covering treatment centers, rehabilitation programs, government services, private clinics, residential facilities, and specialized programs for youth, women, elderly, and military personnel.
Read ArticleGamblers Anonymous Korea and Peer Support Groups: 12-Step Programs and Self-Help
Comprehensive guide to Gamblers Anonymous Korea (GA Korea) and peer support groups for gambling addiction recovery. Find meetings, understand the 12-step program adapted for Korean cultural context, learn about Gam-Anon family support, and access community-based recovery resources.
Read ArticleGambling Self-Exclusion Programs: Voluntary Bans, Casino Exclusion, and Family Intervention
Complete guide to gambling self-exclusion programs in South Korea covering Kangwon Land voluntary exclusion, KPGA programs, family petition processes, Sports Toto restrictions, and legal protections. Essential resource for problem gamblers and families seeking intervention.
Read ArticleGambling Harm Reduction: Prevention Strategies, Limit-Setting Tools, and Pre-Commitment Systems
Comprehensive guide to gambling harm reduction in South Korea covering practical prevention strategies, limit-setting tools, pre-commitment systems like Kangwon Land's visit limits, personal safety strategies, and international best practices for minimizing gambling-related harm.
Read ArticleGambling and Marriage: Divorce, Family Conflict, and Legal Implications
Comprehensive analysis of how gambling affects marriage in South Korea covering divorce proceedings, family court treatment of gambling debts, child custody considerations, legal protections for spouses, and reconciliation options for affected families.
Read ArticleGambling and Domestic Violence: Risk Factors, Research, and Support Services
Comprehensive analysis of the connection between gambling and domestic violence in South Korea. Examines research findings, risk factors linking problem gambling to intimate partner violence, legal protections, intervention strategies, and support services for affected families.
Read ArticleGambling and Illegal Loan Sharks (Sajae): Predatory Lending and Escape Strategies
Comprehensive guide to illegal loan sharks (sajae) targeting problem gamblers in South Korea. Covers predatory tactics, the gambling-lending criminal nexus, legal protections under the Interest Limitation Act, and strategies to escape debt cycles including bankruptcy and rehabilitation options.
Read ArticleGambling and Employment: Workplace Impacts, Corporate Policies, and Labor Law
Comprehensive analysis of how gambling affects employment in South Korea covering workplace policies, termination cases, hiring practices, industry-specific restrictions, and Korean labor law implications for workers and employers.
Read ArticleGambling and Civil Servants: Disciplinary Actions, Pension Loss, and Career Consequences
Comprehensive guide to how gambling affects South Korea's 1.1 million civil servants. Covers the State Public Officials Act's dignity obligation, disciplinary proceedings, pension forfeiture of up to 50%, and why public officials face far harsher consequences than private sector workers for gambling offenses.
Read ArticleGambling and Platform Workers: Gig Economy Delivery Riders, Kakao Drivers, and Financial Vulnerability
Comprehensive guide to gambling risks among gig economy workers in South Korea including Baemin and Coupang Eats delivery riders, Kakao T drivers, and platform workers facing unique vulnerabilities from income volatility, social isolation, and constant smartphone access during work.
Read ArticleGambling and Small Business Owners: Self-Employed Vulnerabilities and Recovery
Comprehensive guide to gambling among Korean small business owners (자영업자) covering unique risk factors, business failure pathways, employee impacts, and specialized recovery resources for entrepreneurs struggling with gambling addiction.
Read ArticleGambling and Religion: Christian, Buddhist, and Confucian Perspectives
Comprehensive analysis of religious perspectives on gambling in South Korea, examining how Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism view games of chance, and the role of faith communities in prevention and treatment programs.
Read ArticleGambling and Mental Health: Depression, Anxiety, and Comorbid Disorders
Comprehensive analysis of gambling and mental health in South Korea examining comorbid psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and substance abuse. Covers bidirectional relationships, neurobiological mechanisms, and integrated treatment approaches.
Read ArticleGambling and Sleep Deprivation: Insomnia, Late-Night Gambling, and Health Impacts
Comprehensive analysis of the bidirectional relationship between gambling and sleep deprivation in South Korea. Covers the neuroscience of sleep-deprived decision-making, Korea's 24-hour gambling availability, the sleep-gambling feedback loop, and evidence-based harm reduction strategies.
Read ArticleThe Neuroscience of Gambling: Brain Science, Dopamine, and Why Addiction Develops
Comprehensive scientific guide to how the brain responds to gambling, explaining dopamine reward pathways, the near-miss effect, prefrontal cortex function in impulse control, and why some people develop gambling addiction. Covers neuroimaging research, treatment implications, and Korean scientific contributions.
Read ArticleGambling Addiction Genetics: Hereditary Risk Factors and Family History
Scientific guide to the genetics of gambling addiction covering hereditary risk factors, twin studies showing 50-60% heritability, candidate genes (DRD2, DRD4, 5-HTTLPR), gene-environment interactions, epigenetics, and implications for individuals with family histories of problem gambling.
Read ArticleGambling and COVID-19: Pandemic Impact, Digital Shift, and Policy Response
Comprehensive analysis of how COVID-19 transformed gambling in South Korea including casino closures, the surge in online gambling, treatment disruptions, youth gambling crisis acceleration, and long-term policy implications for the post-pandemic era.
Read ArticleGambling Addiction Recovery: Steps to Recovery, Family Support, and Rebuilding Life
Complete guide to gambling addiction recovery in South Korea covering stages of recovery, early recovery challenges, relapse prevention, family member support strategies, financial rebuilding, relationship repair, and Korean recovery resources including peer support groups.
Read ArticleGambling and Insurance: Health Coverage, Life Insurance, and Policy Implications
Comprehensive guide to how gambling affects insurance in South Korea covering National Health Insurance coverage for gambling disorder treatment, life insurance underwriting implications, insurance fraud connected to gambling debt, and practical guidance for those seeking treatment or coverage.
Read ArticleStock Market Speculation and Trading Addiction: The Donghak Ant Phenomenon
Comprehensive analysis of trading addiction in South Korea examining the Donghak Ant phenomenon, leveraged trading risks, cryptocurrency speculation, and the psychological overlap between gambling and trading behaviors. Covers warning signs, treatment resources, and the gambling-trading spectrum.
Read ArticleFamily Gambling Intervention: Recognition, Intervention, and Support Strategies
Comprehensive guide to family gambling intervention in South Korea covering how to recognize warning signs, conduct effective interventions using CRAFT approach, set boundaries, navigate Korean cultural considerations, and access family support resources. Essential reading for families dealing with a loved one's gambling problem.
Read ArticleGambling Helplines and Crisis Support: 1336 Hotline and Emergency Resources
Complete guide to gambling helplines in South Korea including the 1336 national hotline, 24/7 crisis support, online counseling options, regional treatment center contacts, and emergency mental health services for problem gamblers and their families.
Read ArticleGambling and Inheritance: Estate Planning, Debt Inheritance, and Family Asset Protection
Comprehensive guide to gambling and inheritance in South Korea covering how gambling debt affects estate distribution, Korean inheritance law options (acceptance, limited acceptance, renunciation), asset protection strategies, and protecting heirs from gambling-related financial burdens.
Read ArticleGambling in Korean Prisons: Rehabilitation, Recidivism, and Correctional Programs
Comprehensive guide to gambling issues in South Korean prisons covering the gambling-incarceration connection, prevalence among inmates, correctional treatment programs, recidivism patterns, reentry challenges, and resources for families of incarcerated problem gamblers.
Read ArticleComparative Analysis
Gambling Laws in Korea vs Japan: A Complete Comparison
Comprehensive comparison of gambling regulations between South Korea and Japan. Examines how these neighboring nations differ in their approaches to casino regulation, integrated resorts, enforcement strategies, and underlying policy philosophies despite similar cultural backgrounds.
Read ArticleKorean Gambling Tourism: Where Koreans Gamble Abroad and Why
Comprehensive analysis of Korean gambling tourism covering why millions travel to Macau, Philippines, Singapore, Las Vegas, and Japan to gamble. Examines popular destinations, VIP programs, legal risks, extraterritorial enforcement, and the complex factors driving this behavior.
Read ArticlePachinko and Zainichi Koreans: The Korean Connection to Japan's Gambling Industry
Comprehensive analysis of the historical role of Zainichi (ethnic Koreans in Japan) in Japan's pachinko industry. Examines how Koreans came to dominate 70-90% of the industry, Cold War remittance flows to North Korea, and the paradox of Korean gambling entrepreneurship abroad while gambling remains illegal at home.
Read ArticleGambling and Overseas Koreans (Gyopo): Transnational Gambling and Legal Complexities
Comprehensive guide to gambling among overseas Koreans (gyopo) including Korean Americans, Korean Canadians, and ethnic Koreans abroad. Covers legal rights based on citizenship status, foreigner casino access, F-4 visa implications, cultural factors, and unique legal complexities for the 7.3 million Koreans living outside the peninsula.
Read ArticleGambling and North Korea: Casinos, Sanctions, and the Two Koreas
Comprehensive analysis of gambling in North Korea covering state-run casinos in Pyongyang and Rason, the regime's use of gambling for foreign currency, international sanctions implications, and the striking contrast between the two Koreas' approaches to gambling policy despite shared cultural heritage.
Read ArticleEconomic Analysis
Gambling and the Korean Economy: Industry Revenue, Tax Revenue, and Economic Impact
Comprehensive analysis of the economic impact of gambling in South Korea covering legal industry revenue (₩22-25 trillion annually), tax contributions, employment, illegal market size, social costs, and policy implications for regulators and policymakers.
Read ArticleCasino Industry Workers: Employment, Working Conditions, and Labor Rights
Comprehensive guide to casino industry employment in South Korea covering Kangwon Land workforce, foreigner-only casino jobs, dealer training and certification, labor union representation, working conditions, career paths, and the unique challenges facing casino workers.
Read ArticleGambling and Korean Chaebols: Corporate Scandals, Chaebol Heirs, and Business Ethics
Analysis of gambling scandals involving Korean chaebols and business conglomerates. Covers chaebol heirs, corporate governance implications, legal consequences, ESG impacts, and the intersection of inherited wealth with gambling culture in Korea's business elite.
Read ArticleCulture and Media
Badugi Poker: Korea's Unique Draw Poker Variant and Its Global Spread
Complete guide to Badugi, the lowball draw poker variant invented in South Korea. Covers origins, rules, hand rankings, strategic considerations, and its remarkable journey from Korean underground gambling to the World Series of Poker and international recognition.
Read ArticleHwatu and Go-Stop: Traditional Korean Card Games and Gambling Culture
Comprehensive guide to hwatu flower cards and Go-Stop, Korea's beloved traditional card game. Covers the history from Japanese hanafuda origins, card deck structure, game rules, cultural significance during holidays, legal status, and the underground hwatugol card room phenomenon.
Read ArticleGambling in Korean Media and Pop Culture: Dramas, Films, and Cultural Portrayal
Comprehensive analysis of how gambling is portrayed in Korean dramas, films, and pop culture. Examines iconic gambling movies like Tazza, K-drama storylines, Squid Game's gambling commentary, and the gap between media representation and real-world gambling consequences in Korea.
Read ArticleGambling Superstitions and Luck Beliefs in Korean Culture
Comprehensive analysis of gambling superstitions in Korean culture including numerology (tetraphobia, lucky 8), feng shui casino design, traditional luck beliefs, dream interpretation, lucky charms, and how cultural beliefs intersect with gambling psychology and problem gambling.
Read ArticleGambling and Korean Military Veterans: Post-Service Vulnerability, PTSD, and Reintegration
Comprehensive analysis of how South Korean military veterans face elevated gambling risks after mandatory conscription. Covers PTSD-related vulnerability, the structured-to-unstructured transition, delayed career development, reintegration challenges, and the gap in veteran-specific gambling support services.
Read ArticleAbout This Resource
Casino Korea is an educational resource dedicated to providing accurate, comprehensive information about gambling in South Korea. Our content is researched using primary sources including the Korea Legislation Research Institute, the National Gambling Control Commission, and academic research from institutions like the National Institutes of Health.
All articles are provided for educational purposes only. We do not promote gambling, provide gambling services, or encourage participation in illegal activities. Our mission is to inform and educate through factual, well-researched content. For problem gambling support, contact the Korean Center on Gambling Problems.
Additional Resources
Beyond our article collection, we also provide:
- Educational Tools & Calculators - Interactive tools for understanding gambling mathematics including our House Edge Calculator
- Help Resources - Support organizations and treatment services for problem gambling
- Homepage - Overview and introduction to gambling in South Korea
Legal Disclaimer
This website provides educational information about gambling in South Korea. It does not constitute legal advice. Korean gambling laws are complex and subject to change. Anyone with specific legal questions should consult a qualified attorney licensed to practice in South Korea.
Most forms of gambling are illegal for Korean citizens. Penalties can include fines up to ₩20 million and imprisonment of up to three years for habitual offenders. Korean law applies extraterritorially to citizens gambling abroad.
Stay Informed
South Korean gambling regulation is evolving as policymakers grapple with technological change, economic pressures, and social concerns. We update our articles periodically to reflect new developments, legislative changes, and emerging trends in Korean gambling policy.
For the latest information on specific topics, check the publication date on individual articles. Our most recent addition is our analysis of the future of gambling regulation in Korea, which examines potential regulatory trajectories over the next decade.