Tim Alper is a journalist who covers betting news and regulation for CasinoBeats. He joined the CasinoBeats team in May 2025. He reports on breaking news and developments in the world of betting, casinos, and...
Read Full BioPolice and legal experts have warned South Korean web developers that they could face jail time if they build casino sites for illegal operators.
The South Korean media outlet Gyeongsang Ilbo reported that the warning came after the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Mobile Criminal Investigation Unit’s recent dismantling of the Jinseongpa crime group.
The notoriously violent group, police say, was founded in 1983 by a collection of school friends. Its core members were all born in the 1980s.
Police think the group recruited new members from high schools in Southwest Seoul with promises of “money-making opportunities.”
‘Build Casino Sites and You Could End up in Jail,’ Web Designers Warned
The group is accused of running a network of gambling websites and investment-related fraud rings.
Police say that a branch of the gang, comprising several “senior executive” members, operated the group’s gambling website arm.
These executives then reportedly commissioned IT and design work from freelancers and small companies.
But police and lawyers warned that web design professionals risk jail time and hefty fines if they take work from groups like Jinseongpa.
Hwimyung Law Firm lawyer Kim Seong-wook warned that “inexperienced individuals, particularly those just starting out, can unknowingly become involved” in organized crime.
He added that in recent years, online gambling-related crime has become more organized and larger in scale.
This is resulting in higher losses for victims. These same criminal gangs, he warned, are often involved in violent attacks, which leads to higher legal penalties.
That, in turn, can lead to heavier sentencing for anyone acting as an accomplice to these groups.
Police noted that creating an online gambling site constitutes a crime under existing laws, even if the resulting websites do not turn a profit.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the matter of whether an illegal gambling site makes a profit “is irrelevant.”
Law enforcement officers stated that involvement in any stage of the illegal casino website process is punishable by a jail term of up to five years or fines of up to 30 million won ($21,660).
Courts have the power to fine casual bettors up to 10 million won ($7,219) for visiting illegal casino sites.
Judges can fine habitual gamblers up to twice this amount, and can also jail repeat offenders for up to three years.
Crime Network ‘Ran Gambling Networks and Sold Fake SIM Cards’
Jinseongpa members habitually assaulted lower-level group members to “maintain discipline within the organization,” police said.
Each cell within the gang allegedly had an executive member, as well as up to five subordinates. In addition to running gambling sites, the gang reportedly traded illegal SIM cards and ran prostitution rings.
Earlier this month, the South Korean YouTube star and webtoon artist Lee Mal-nyeon (aka ChimChakMan) said he would take legal action against overseas firms that use deepfakes to promote online gambling games.
He said the firms were ripping and editing his content using AI tools. The resulting videos make it seem as though he or his animated creations were promoting online casinos, Lee said.
Lee denied that he had ever promoted online casinos.
Last month, South Korea’s sole legal sportsbook firm offered the public rewards of up to $145,000 for tipoffs about illegal sports betting operators.
