The Korea Racing Authority (KRA) announced a 2024 plan to counter illegal horse race betting, saying it is acting ahead of the full launch of online betting ticket sales in June and aims to settle online sales successfully and build a sound leisure culture1. The announcement was made on March 19, 2024, according to the report1.
The authority said more than 90 percent of illegal horse race betting takes place online, and that it will introduce an online crackdown system using the latest technology1. It said it will strengthen identity verification procedures and, to prevent the unauthorized leak of race video and dividend screens, encrypt video data and insert watermarks to trace leak routes1.
"불법 경마 90% 이상이 온라인에서 행해지기 때문에 최신 기술을 접목한 온라인 불법 단속 체계를 선보일 것"
The plan covers three main areas: upgrading the illegal betting monitoring and enforcement system, running prevention publicity and a public reporting system, and consolidating cooperation with related institutions1. The KRA said it operates a standing reward system that pays bounties to people who report illegal horse race sites and promotional posts, and that when it finds legal violations it will ask investigative authorities to pursue criminal punishment1.
The report did not give figures for the number of illegal sites, the size of rewards, the number of prosecutions, or the budget for the plan. Those details have not been reported1.
What it means for players
South Korea's horse racing market is run by the KRA, and betting through unauthorized online sites is illegal. The authority's own figure, that more than 90 percent of illegal horse race betting happens online, indicates where enforcement attention is directed1. For locals, expats and visitors who bet on horse racing in South Korea, the practical effect is that unlicensed online operators and the posts that promote them are the stated target, and that reporting such sites can lead to a bounty under the standing reward system1. The KRA also said it will strengthen identity verification, which concerns how bettors are identified on official channels1. The report did not describe how the crackdown will treat individual bettors who use illegal sites, and no penalties for players were specified1.
What happens next
Online betting ticket sales are due to begin in full in June 2024, and the KRA said the 2024 response plan is being pushed forward ahead of that launch1. The authority said it will request active criminal handling from investigative authorities when it finds violations1. No further dates were given in the report1.
Sources1 sources
- 한국마사회, 불법 경마 대응 계획 추진…포상금제 상시 운영 | 연합뉴스, yna.co.kr
