Korean Crackdown On Internet Gambling

Published: Friday, August 04, 2006 Online-Casinos.com

INTERNET GAMBLING TO FORM PART OF KOREAN CRACKDOWN

Internet cafes the main target.


The Korea Times reports this week that opening an Internet cafe will soon require registration following a government decision to tighten control over gambling services.

Currently no licensing or registration is required to open an Internet cafe, better known domestically as a PC Bang.

Cafe operators will be obliged to delete betting programs from their computers, according to the new regulations, jointly drafted by the government and the governing Uri Party. Businesses that do not comply face closure and other punitive measures by the authorities.

The ruling Uri Party plans to revise relevant laws during the regular session of the National Assembly that opens in September.

The authorities claim that many Internet cafes are using Internet gambling programs to attract custom back to their venues. Business has weakened as most Korean homes are now equipped with high-speed Internet services.

The governing camp also came up with measures to get rid of gift coupons that are used as real currency in the ``adult game'' facilities that mostly provide online horse-racing games.

The government's nationwide crackdown will continue until late October, the Office of the Prime Minister said.

PC Bang are going to extraordinary lengths to continue their illegal business. Police in Songnam, Kyonggi Province, said Tuesday they found one PC Bang disguising itself as a medical clinic. Despite the hospital signs on its window, the first floor of the building was guarded by people with radios, and the room was equipped with 32 computers hooked to a gambling server.

Ten working staff and customers were taken to a nearby police station, along with the computers and 1.4 million won that was used for gambling.