South Korean Police Raid Crypto-Mining Disguised Gambling Den

South Korean police conducted a raid on a suspected illegal gambling den that was disguised as a crypto mining center. The operation was carried out by the Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, and was announced on April 9. The police are currently questioning the operator of the alleged den on suspicions of violating the Game Industry Promotion Act.

During the raid, officers confiscated 50 gaming machines and two kiosks from an unregistered office in the city. The operator of the facility had allegedly modified free mobile games to be playable on PC terminals and charged players 50,000 won (around $34) per hour to use the terminals. Cash prizes were reportedly paid out to high-scoring players, with the room generating an estimated 140 million won ($95,000) worth of illegal proceeds.

The police spokesperson emphasized that the premises were disguised as a center for mining virtual currency and exchanging coins. This deception was likely an attempt to evade detection and regulation. The investigation is ongoing, with police searching for possible accomplices who may have assisted the operator in committing the alleged crimes.

The police have stated their commitment to cracking down on illegal gaming rooms, which they view as a threat to the public economy. They plan to actively block these establishments from reopening or expanding their reach. This raid is part of a broader effort to combat illegal gambling activities in the region, following a previous operation in September where seven suspects were arrested in a "crypto-powered drug dealing" ring.