South Korea Probes Bus Driver Caught Placing Online Bets While Driving

A bus driver in South Korea has demonstrated a highly questionable form of multitasking, placing online casino bets while driving down a busy expressway, Seoul Kyungjae reports.

The incident came to light after a passenger recorded the driver and the footage was later aired on local news.

The video shows the driver steering with one hand while using the other to place bets on his phone, which was mounted on a holder.

According to witnesses, this dangerous performance went on for about an hour and twenty minutes on a crowded highway. The bus was nearly full, and the driver’s attention repeatedly shifted between the road and his screen.

“He kept changing lanes at high speed while using his phone,” one passenger told reporters.

The bus company has announced an internal investigation and said the driver will be disciplined. However, he may also face criminal charges.

South Korean law prohibits public transport drivers from using electronic devices while operating a vehicle. Violators face fines of up to 5 million won (about $3,400).

Gambling Park notes that most forms of online gambling are illegal for South Korean citizens. The country has only one authorized online sports betting platform — the state-run Sports Toto — and participation in offshore online casinos or foreign bookmakers is prohibited. This means the driver may have violated not only traffic regulations but also the country’s gambling laws.