Online live casino is illegal in South Korea, and the only casino open to Korean citizens is Kangwon Land in Gangwon Province. Under the Criminal Act, gambling is punishable by a fine of up to 10 million won, habitual gambling by up to three years’ imprisonment or a 20 million won fine, and opening a gambling place for profit by up to five years or 30 million won. Every other casino in the country admits foreign passport holders only, and the national gambling regulator, the National Gambling Control Commission, warns that online casinos are illegal gambling.
This guide explains the law, how Kangwon Land and the foreigner-only casinos work, the house edge of the live games Korean players know, the risks of offshore sites, and the free 1336 helpline. It is informational only and recommends no gambling site.
Live casino in South Korea at a glance (October 2026)
| Question | Short answer | Legal basis or source |
|---|---|---|
| Is online casino legal? | No | Criminal Act Art. 246 and 247; NGCC |
| Penalty for gambling | Fine of up to 10 million won | Criminal Act Art. 246(1) |
| Penalty for habitual gambling | Up to 3 years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million won | Criminal Act Art. 246(2) |
| Opening a gambling place for profit | Up to 5 years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million won | Criminal Act Art. 247 |
| Casino open to Koreans | Kangwon Land only | Special Act on Assistance to the Development of Abandoned Mine Areas |
| Kangwon Land entry tax (Koreans) | 9,000 won per entry; foreigners exempt | Kangwon Land |
| Regulator | National Gambling Control Commission (NGCC), set up in 2007 under the Prime Minister | NGCC |
| Help line | 1336 (no area code), Korea Center on Gambling Problems | KCGP |
The law: gambling is a crime unless a special law allows it
South Korea’s Criminal Act sets the baseline. Article 246(1) punishes gambling with a fine of up to 10 million won, with an exception for gambling that is only temporary amusement. Habitual gambling, under Article 246(2), up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million won. Anyone who opens a place or space for gambling for profit faces up to five years or a fine of up to 30 million won under Article 247, and Korean courts treat gambling websites as such a “space”.
Legal gambling exists only where a special law creates it. The NGCC’s founding law defines the regulated “speculative industries” as casinos, horse racing, bicycle racing, motorboat racing, lotteries, sports promotion betting (Sports Toto) and bullfighting. Each runs under its own legislation and public operator. None of them is an online casino. Unauthorized sports betting sites are covered separately by the National Sports Promotion Act, which carries heavy penalties for operators and also punishes people who bet on such sites.
What is legal online
A few regulated products can be bought online through official channels. Sports Toto, the legal sports promotion betting product, is sold through its official online platform, and the state lottery also has an official online sales channel, each with purchase limits and identity checks. Both are run by public bodies under their own laws and supervised by the NGCC. Neither offers casino games, live or otherwise, and anything that looks like a live casino on a Korean phone is outside the law.
Does playing at a foreign-licensed site change anything?
No. The NGCC published a public warning about illegal online casinos in September 2025, and Korean police and prosecutors routinely pursue the operators, agents and promoters behind sites aimed at Korean players. A licence from Curaçao, Malta or the Philippines does not make gambling from Korea lawful, and Korean nationals who gamble at overseas sites while in Korea are within the reach of the Criminal Act.
Kangwon Land: the one casino open to Koreans
Kangwon Land, in Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province, is the only casino where Korean nationals may gamble. It exists because of the Special Act on Assistance to the Development of Abandoned Mine Areas, passed in 1995 to revive the region’s former coal-mining towns, which created an exception to the rule that casinos may admit foreigners only. The casino opened in 2000.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | Minors are refused: the Korean-language entry guide sets the line at under 19 in full years (만 19세 미만), while the English page words it as 20 by birthday |
| Entry tax for Koreans | 9,000 won per entry: 6,300 won individual consumption tax, 1,890 won education tax and 810 won VAT, all paid to the state |
| Foreign visitors | Exempt from the entry tax; passport required on first entry |
| Identification | ID checked at the door to keep out minors and other restricted groups |
| Visit limits | No more than 15 days a month; customers who hit 15 days in two consecutive months, or more than 30 days a quarter in two consecutive quarters, face a one-month ban, then two months, then a permanent ban |
| Local residents | Residents of the surrounding former mining towns are restricted from entry |
The casino runs live tables, including baccarat, blackjack and roulette, alongside slot machines. Since February 2025 it has also trialled a foreigner-only gaming zone. For a Korean player, it is the only lawful way to sit at a live dealer table inside the country.
Foreigner-only casinos
Every other casino in South Korea is licensed under tourism law to admit foreign passport holders only, with a little under twenty such casinos in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Jeju and other cities. Korean nationals cannot gamble in them, though they can use the hotels and resorts around them. These casinos are an important part of Korea’s tourism economy and are supervised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the NGCC.
Live games Korean players know, and what they cost
Baccarat is the dominant table game in Korea’s casinos, as in most of Asia, followed by blackjack, roulette and sic bo. A live dealer game is a real table with a human dealer; online studios add cameras and card scanners so that bets settle automatically, as our guide to how live dealer games work explains. Many online live tables come from studios such as Evolution, which supply licensed markets elsewhere; none is licensed to serve players in Korea.
The house edges below are standard-rule figures from Wizard of Odds. They apply at Kangwon Land’s tables as much as anywhere else, subject to the exact rules on each table placard.
| Game | Bet | House edge (standard rules) |
|---|---|---|
| Baccarat | Banker (5% commission) | 1.06% |
| Baccarat | Player / Tie at 8:1 | 1.24% / 14.36% |
| Blackjack | Main hand, basic strategy | About 0.5% with good rules |
| Roulette (single zero) | Any bet | 2.70% |
| Sic bo | Big or Small | 2.78% |
No system or pattern-tracking changes these numbers. Betting more after a run of Banker or Player wins only means losing more at the same rate.
Risks of offshore and illegal online casinos
- Criminal liability. Players can be fined under Article 246; habitual players face imprisonment; agents and promoters face far heavier charges.
- Account freezes. Bank accounts used to move money to illegal gambling sites can be frozen in investigations.
- No recourse. If an illegal site refuses a withdrawal, no Korean regulator or court will help recover the money.
- Scams. Fake casino and “investment” sites promoted through messaging apps often show winnings and then demand fees before paying out.
- Young players. The NGCC has made youth gambling a policy priority; illegal sites do not verify age.
Our page on why online casinos block accounts explains how withdrawals are refused at sites with no effective regulator.
Where to get help in South Korea
The Korea Center on Gambling Problems (KCGP, 한국도박문제예방치유원) runs the national gambling helpline: dial 1336 without an area code. It offers phone counselling, chat, text and KakaoTalk consultations, online self-help programs and referral to regional centres, for people who gamble and for their families. The NGCC promotes the same number for expert gambling counselling. Our responsible gambling page lists warning signs and first steps.
Frequently asked questions
Is online casino legal in South Korea?
No. Gambling is a crime under Article 246 of the Criminal Act, and no online casino is authorized. The NGCC warns that online casinos are illegal gambling, whatever licence they claim from abroad.
Which casino can Koreans legally play at?
Only Kangwon Land in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, under the Special Act on Assistance to the Development of Abandoned Mine Areas. All other Korean casinos admit foreign passport holders only.
What is the penalty for gambling in South Korea?
A fine of up to 10 million won for gambling, and up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million won for habitual gambling. Opening a gambling place for profit carries up to five years or 30 million won.
How much does it cost Koreans to enter Kangwon Land?
The entry tax is 9,000 won per entry, made up of individual consumption tax, education tax and VAT. Foreign visitors are exempt. Minors are refused entry, and Korean customers may enter on no more than 15 days a month.
Can foreigners play at casinos in South Korea?
Yes. Foreign passport holders can play at Korea’s foreigner-only casinos and at Kangwon Land. Korean nationals can only gamble at Kangwon Land.
Where can I get help with a gambling problem in Korea?
Call 1336, the helpline of the Korea Center on Gambling Problems. It also offers chat, text and KakaoTalk counselling, and supports family members.
Sources
- Korean Law Information Center: Criminal Act, Articles 246 and 247 (English translation)
- National Gambling Control Commission (사행산업통합감독위원회): about the commission, regulated industries, illegal online casino warning, 1336
- Kangwon Land casino entry guide, Korean (entry tax 9,000 won and components; minors under 19 full years refused; 15 days a month limit)
- Kangwon Land casino guide (English): entry tax and admission restrictions
- Korea Center on Gambling Problems (한국도박문제예방치유원): helpline 1336
- Wizard of Odds: baccarat house edge
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