Police in South Korea have referred more than 118 individuals — including 13 site operators and 105 heavy bettors — to prosecutors over their alleged roles in a Vietnam-based illegal gambling operation that processed approximately 63 billion won (roughly US$45.6 million) in wagers. The Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency announced the referrals on Tuesday, 25 August, with all suspects sent to the prosecution without physical detention on gambling-related charges.

How the Operation Worked

The gambling ring allegedly established an office in Vietnam in April 2024 and ran the platform for approximately 10 months, offering illegal sports betting and other online gambling services. The site drew a total of 3,553 registered members, of whom police identified 105 as heavy bettors warranting prosecutorial referral. A 30-something ringleader headed the operation, though authorities note that a second ringleader remains at large.

A Separate But Linked Case Widens the Crackdown

The Chungbuk bust follows a parallel action announced on Monday, 24 August, in which 12 suspects were referred to the prosecution and five others were placed on an Interpol Red Notice for allegedly running a separate illegal online gambling network. That operation reportedly handled over 60 billion won (approximately US$43.36 million) in stakes and generated more than 3 billion won in criminal proceeds.

The 17 suspects in the second case — all aged in their 20s and 30s — are accused of operating illicit sports betting, online casino, and slot game platforms between November 2022 and July 2025 across multiple cities including Incheon, west of Seoul, and the southeastern city of Ulsan, according to Ulsan police.

YouTube Used to Lure Victims

Investigators say the suspects went to elaborate lengths to recruit users. They streamed YouTube live broadcasts that falsely depicted high win rates and massive payouts. To amplify reach, the group reportedly deployed a self-developed traffic manipulation programme and set up a dedicated promotion team to artificially inflate view counts and real-time viewer numbers — pushing promotional videos to the top of YouTube search and recommendation feeds.

Authorities launched the investigation in March 2024 based on a tip-off and tracked the suspects' operational bases, seizing key evidence including burner phones, dummy bank accounts, and computers. An 18-month manhunt culminated in the sequential apprehension of twelve suspects, while five others believed to be sheltering in Thailand remain the subject of active Interpol pursuit.

Authorities Vow Cross-Border Pursuit

'We will track down the suspects who fled overseas to the bitter end through international cooperation,' a police official said. South Korean authorities have also obtained an arrest warrant for the five at-large suspects and formally requested Interpol Red Notices to facilitate their extradition. Police confirmed the investigation is ongoing, with further suspects expected to be identified.