South Korea Busts ₩60B Gambling Ring Accused of Manipulating YouTube Views

ULSAN, South Korea – Police have detained 12 people accused of operating illegal gambling sites that handled more than ₩60 billion in wagers.

Investigators say the group used staged YouTube wins and manipulated viewer numbers to promote its sports betting, casino and slot platforms.

The Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency’s Cyber Investigation Unit said 17 people in their 20s and 30s were identified as key members of the organization. Twelve, including an alleged domestic leader, have been referred to prosecutors in custody, while five suspects believed to be in Thailand are being pursued internationally.

Police Say YouTube Traffic Was Manipulated

The alleged operation ran from November 2022 through July 2025 and handled more than ₩60 billion, approximately $43 million, in gambling stakes. Police estimate the organization obtained more than ₩3 billion in criminal proceeds during that period.

Investigators said YouTube was a central part of the group’s recruitment strategy. Members allegedly broadcast live streams designed to make it appear that gamblers were regularly winning large amounts of money at high rates, encouraging viewers to join the illegal sites.

The group is also accused of developing its own traffic manipulation software to inflate video views and real-time audience numbers. The objective was to push promotional content higher in YouTube search results and recommendation feeds.

Police said the organization established a dedicated promotional team to manipulate traffic while other members handled gambling-site operations, customer service, player recruitment and financial transactions.

Operation Allegedly Ran Around the Clock

Members divided responsibilities across site management, customer support, promotion, recruitment, withdrawals and alleged money laundering. Some reportedly worked rotating shifts to process player deposits and exchanges around the clock.

The organization allegedly operated from officetels in Ulsan and Incheon and periodically moved locations in an effort to avoid detection. Investigators began examining the network in March 2025 after receiving intelligence about its activities.

Police subsequently located operating bases and seized burner phones, bank accounts and computers allegedly used by the group. Authorities said they spent roughly 18 months identifying and arresting members of the organization.

Investigators have also taken steps to preserve approximately ₩3 billion in suspected criminal proceeds before prosecution. The assets include real estate, vehicles and deposits linked to alleged leaders of the operation.

Five Suspects Pursued Through Interpol

Arrest warrants have been obtained for five remaining suspects, including an alleged overseas leader believed to be in Thailand, and authorities have sought Interpol Red Notices as part of efforts to return them to South Korea.

The case follows another major South Korean enforcement action this month in which police shut a gambling network linked to ₩4.77 trillion in betting activity. That investigation involved a separate organization accused of using a network of websites to direct users toward illegal casino platforms.

Ulsan police said their investigation will continue beyond the five overseas suspects. Authorities plan to examine organizations accused of supplying illegal gambling platforms to adult PC cafes and other distributors as part of the broader enforcement effort.

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