All illegal sports gambling and sports betting, including Sports Toto and Betman, are considered 'illegal' for minors
Strong legal penalties for participation in illegal sports gambling…Sports Toto Korea continues to carry out prevention campaigns to eradicate illegal sports gambling by minors
The Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO), which issues the sports promotion voting rights Sports Toto, stated that there is a need for a nationwide awareness to prevent the spread of illegal sports gambling by minors and to prevent damage.
All forms of sports betting, including similar sites that imitate 'Toto' and 'Proto', the unique games of Sports Toto, are illegal. Especially, the use by minors under 19 is strictly prohibited by law.
According to the current Korea Sports Promotion Act, it is illegal to sell sports promotion voting rights to minors or provide refunds. Violation of this can result in imprisonment for up to 3 years or fines of up to 30 million won. Furthermore, not only the operators of illegal gambling sites but also those who participated in these sites may face up to 5 years in prison or fines of up to 50 million won, requiring particular caution from minors.
Recently, the accessibility of minors to illegal sports gambling sites has increased, emerging as a social problem. With the spread of smartphones and the development of online environments, the barriers to access have lowered, and cases are increasing where adolescents engage in illegal activities driven by curiosity or the expectation of small revenue through advertisements that are indiscriminately exposed on social media and various communities.
The problem does not end here. Beyond simple monetary damage, secondary harms such as personal information leakage, threats due to proxy betting, and involvement in crime are continuously occurring, highlighting the urgent need for social awareness.
The government and related agencies are strengthening crackdowns on illegal sports gambling and implementing various systems to block minors' access. However, there are also criticisms that just enforcement is not sufficient as the operating methods of illegal sports gambling sites are evolving. Accordingly, the need for extensive prevention education and awareness improvement campaigns is increasing.
In this regard, a Sports Toto Korea official noted, 'Illegal sports gambling is not just a simple game but a clear criminal act subject to severe legal penalties,' adding, 'We will continue various prevention activities and campaigns to prevent the influx of minors into illegal sports gambling.'