South Korean police arrest 58 over illegal gambling sites impersonating Kangwon Land

South Korean police have arrested 58 people accused of operating illegal gambling websites disguised as official Kangwon Land platforms, in a scheme that allegedly processed around KRW78 billion through borrowed-name bank accounts and attracted more than 40,000 domestic users.

South Korean police have broken up an alleged illegal gambling network that used the name and branding of Kangwon Land to convince users that its online casino services were legitimate. The Cyber Investigation Unit of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency announced the arrests on August 17, with five of the 58 suspects detained in custody.

Investigators allege that the group copied Kangwon Land’s logo and promoted its services through social media as an official online platform operated by the state-linked casino company. Police stressed that Kangwon Land does not operate an online casino and provides casino gambling only at its authorised physical venue.

The organisation is accused of operating between October 2022 and August 2025, during which approximately KRW78 billion was deposited by users. Investigators say the group used about 70 bank accounts registered in other people’s names and regularly changed the accounts used for deposits and withdrawals in an attempt to make financial tracking more difficult.

Police identified a foreign national in his 30s as the alleged head of the domestic operation. The network reportedly divided responsibilities between account management, recruitment of borrowed-name accounts and other operational functions. Authorities are continuing to investigate suspected organisers based overseas.

The websites reportedly offered dozens of language options and various casino-style games through overseas infrastructure. Investigators also allege that the group used deepfake videos incorporating the faces and voices of well-known athletes to promote the sites and increase their appearance of legitimacy. More than 40,000 domestic users are believed to have registered.

Police have obtained a pre-indictment preservation order covering approximately KRW1.5 billion suspected of representing criminal proceeds. The investigation is now being expanded to overseas operators and high-volume domestic users connected with the network.

The case follows repeated warnings from Kangwon Land about websites and advertisements falsely presenting themselves as official online casino services. The company previously reported impersonation sites using its corporate identity and misleading claims to attract users, while reiterating that it does not operate an online casino.

The arrests illustrate how illegal gambling networks are increasingly combining brand impersonation, artificial-intelligence-generated advertising and complex payment structures. For South Korean authorities, the case also highlights the importance of targeting not only websites themselves but the bank accounts, promoters and overseas infrastructure that allow illegal gambling operations to continue functioning.