South Korea announces $150,000 reward to report illegal sports gambling
South Korea’s Sports Toto Korea is encouraging the public to report illegal sports gambling activities through its official Illegal Sports Toto Reporting Center. People who provide useful information about illegal gambling operators can receive rewards of up to 200 million won (US$150,000).
Reports can be submitted either through the . Citizens can report site operators, users, and website addresses. To file a report online, individuals must first verify their identity. They can then enter the site’s web address, any access information such as ID, password, or referral name, and upload supporting evidence. A reward of 15,000 won is given for each accepted report, with a maximum limit of 1.5 million won per person per month, based on the outcome of the Korea Communications Commission’s review.
Reports of bank account numbers linked to illegal gambling sites can be submitted at the same time as the site details. If these are verified, a reward of 100,000 won is paid for each case, with no monthly or total cap. All updates about the outcome and payment are sent via text message, so reporters must ensure they submit a correct mobile phone number.
Legal penalties and growing concerns
The National Sports Promotion Act considers both the operation and use of illegal sports gambling to be criminal offences. Operators can face up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 70 million won. Users risk up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won. Despite these legal consequences, such illegal websites continue to rise in number.
People who report involvement in sports match-fixing can earn up to 50 million won. There are also separate rewards for information related to the design, distribution, or operation of illegal sites, or for sharing details that help prevent unfair betting outcomes. These can fetch up to 15 million won, depending on the nature of the tip-off.
Commitment to reduce damage
A Sports Toto Korea official said, “The number of cases and amounts of damage caused by illegal sports gambling sites is increasing every year. The Illegal Sports Toto Reporting Center operates a reward system to encourage voluntary participation from citizens, and Sports Toto Korea will also do its best to reduce damage caused by illegal sports gambling.”
More information about the reporting system and reward details can be found on the Illegal Sports Toto Reporting Center’s website, or by calling the helpline.
