Representatives from South Korea’s tourism sector gathered on Wednesday, urging the government to address two key points regarding gambling. First, they emphasized the need for stricter measures against the illegal gambling sector that targets nationals and encourages them to gamble abroad. Second, they called for the government to promote safe and responsible gambling domestically and increase awareness of choosing legitimate options.
The Korea Times and the Tourism Sciences Society of Korea (TOSOK) hosted the event, bringing together academics, government officials, and industry leaders to discuss a framework to protect nationals and deter illegal overseas gambling. Lee Jae-seok, a tourism professor at Gangneung-Wonju National University, defined illegal gambling as Korean citizens gambling at international casinos for financial gain.
South Korea’s strict gambling laws align it with Japan and China, where individuals can be prosecuted for gambling abroad. The issue arises amid surging overseas gambling activity, with outdated data showing 4.9 trillion won ($3.62 billion) gambled abroad by South Koreans in 2017.
Illegal gambling consequences, broadly including gambling abroad, carry fines up to 20 million won and a three-year prison sentence. The government needs to assess how many travel abroad for gambling, a challenge as illegal venues are uncooperative. A solution may involve a dedicated task force to oversee illegal gambling activities and potentially cooperate with international watchdogs like Interpol.
Currently, Macau and the Philippines are the top destinations for South Koreans seeking to gamble outside the country’s restrictive laws.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com