South Korea Pays Up to $135,000 for Information on Illegal Bookmakers

South Korea operates a financial reward system for reporting illegal betting operators. According to the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO), as cited by iGamingToday, informants received around 600 million won (more than $406,000) in payouts in 2025.

Payments are made through a dedicated reporting center for illegal betting, jointly administered by KSPO and Korea Sports Leisure. The foundation noted that nearly half of the total amount was paid out in the first half of the year, indicating active use of the mechanism and a steady flow of tips from the public.

The size of the reward depends on the value of the information provided. In July, the regulator officially announced that informants could receive up to 200 million won (about $135,000) for particularly significant reports.

In December, one whistleblower was paid 116 million won (approximately $78,000) after information they provided led to the identification of an illegal operator.

Authorities emphasize that the program is aimed at combating the shadow betting market. In South Korea, only the state-run Sports Toto system operates legally, while the use of unlicensed platforms carries criminal liability for both operators and players.

Gambling Park notes that South Korea relies not only on strict sanctions but also on direct financial incentives for informants, offering rewards for information on illegal gambling that are comparable to multimillion-dollar fines.