As the police investigation into an illegal online gambling organization suspected of operating around Kangwon Land continues for several months, reports from the scene suggest that a customer was recently arrested by police at the casino floor, drawing significant attention.
In particular, following the news in May that a key figure identified as a core member of the illegal online gambling organization had been apprehended, testimonies regarding subsequent questioning of related individuals in the Gohan and Sabuk areas have emerged. This raises the possibility that the investigation has expanded beyond the online gambling site operation itself to include middle-tier recruiters and brokers.
According to comprehensive reports from the Tatata Journal on the 30th, a tip was received that a person identified as 'A', who was playing games at the Kangwon Land casino floor around 7:00 PM on the 24th, was arrested by investigators reportedly from the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency and transported to Busan.
On-site coverage indicates that four investigators requested cooperation from the Kangwon Land situation room, stating they were visiting to apprehend a key suspect related to an online gambling case.
However, as the police have not made an official announcement regarding the case, specific charges against 'A', the circumstances of the arrest, and whether they were detained remain unconfirmed.
This arrest report is gaining attention because it coincides with the timeline of the investigation into illegal online gambling that has been ongoing in the Gohan and Sabuk areas since May.
Previously, in May, there were on-site testimonies that 'B', who had been active near Kangwon Land, had been apprehended by investigative authorities on suspicion of involvement in operating illegal online gambling sites (such as opening illegal gambling venues).
'B' was a figure rumored within the local community to have generated significant profits through illegal online gambling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, their actual involvement in operating gambling sites, the scale of criminal proceeds, and their current legal status have not been officially confirmed.
On the ground, there is ongoing talk that the investigation into 'B' has led to a wider probe into those who acted as recruiters for online gambling customers and as intermediaries.
Multiple sources, including long-term residents of the Gohan and Sabuk areas and casino customers, stated they are aware that dozens of related individuals have been questioned by the police.
While some claim the number of people questioned is between 50 and 100, this is not an official figure confirmed by the police.
Furthermore, it is noted that not everyone questioned is necessarily a suspect; some may be witnesses, and it is understood that no witnesses have been arrested or detained.
'K', a long-term resident of the Gohan area, said, "I know that many of the Gohan and Sabuk residents who acted as intermediaries for online gambling have been questioned by the police. Following the news in May about the apprehension of a key figure, the recent report of an additional arrest at the Kangwon Land casino has people in the area on high alert."
Some sources claimed that related questioning took place at local police facilities, such as the Sabuk Police Substation.
The specific scale, targets, and content of the investigation by the authorities have not yet been confirmed.
Another point of interest in this case is the reality of the illegal online gambling recruitment organizations known to have been active around Kangwon Land.
The Gohan and Sabuk areas of Jeongseon-gun, where Kangwon Land is located, are densely populated with frequent casino visitors and long-term residents, and are characterized by the circulation of various information through long-established personal relationships.
Previous on-site coverage by the Tatata Journal secured testimonies that there were activities to recruit members for illegal online gambling sites by leveraging the connections of some long-term residents and casino-related personnel.
In particular, it is said that as Kangwon Land remained closed for a long period due to the COVID-19 pandemic and overseas gambling became difficult, some casino users moved to illegal gambling sites such as online baccarat and slot machines.
At the time, some middle-tier brokers reportedly operated by introducing existing casino customers to online gambling sites and receiving commissions based on the customers' betting performance.
This recruitment method is characterized by a structure similar to multi-level marketing organizations, connecting head operators, key managers, middle-tier brokers, and lower-level recruiters.
There were also on-site testimonies that some recruiters earned substantial profits, as commission income could increase as customer recruitment performance and betting volume grew.
However, it has not been confirmed whether this recruitment system is directly connected to the organization currently under investigation by the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency.
If investigative authorities are indeed tracking the relationship between online gambling site operators, distributors, and middle-tier recruiters, the division of roles within the organization and the flow of criminal proceeds are likely to be key issues in the investigation.
In particular, there are testimonies that illegal online gambling-related activities around Kangwon Land have noticeably shrunk since May, when the police investigation reportedly began in earnest.
Some long-term residents in the Gohan and Sabuk areas reported that online gambling member recruitment or intermediary activities have decreased compared to the past, and that related individuals are reacting sensitively to the possibility of further police questioning.
However, whether the actual scale of illegal online gambling usage has decreased, or if recruitment activities have been halted due to the investigation, has not been confirmed by objective statistics.
Meanwhile, police across the country are recently strengthening investigations to track not only illegal online gambling site operators but also program development companies, game money supply organizations, 'daepo' (borrowed-name) bank account recruiters, and money laundering organizations.
In a special crackdown on cyber gambling conducted by the National Office of Investigation of the National Police Agency from last November to the end of May this year, 2,319 people were apprehended in 1,746 cases, and 154 were arrested.
Additionally, the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency recently achieved results in a large-scale organizational investigation, apprehending 77 people related to a 23 trillion won illegal gambling site supply organization and arresting 21 of them.
This investigation, reported to be underway around Kangwon Land, could also serve as an important opportunity to grasp the reality of illegal online gambling in the region if the organization's actual operational structure, recruitment network, and fund flow are confirmed.
However, it cannot be concluded at this time whether the arrest of 'A', the investigation into 'B', and the questioning of local figures all pertain to the same case.
As there has been no official announcement of the case by investigative authorities to date, it appears that the specific charges against those involved, the scale of the crime, and the methods of organizational operation will need to be confirmed through future investigation results.
Attention is focused on how far the investigation into the illegal online gambling organization around Kangwon Land is actually expanding, and whether further arrests and tracking of criminal proceeds will take place.
