South Korean Police Detain Septuagenarians in Raid on Illegal Gambling Den

(AsiaGameHub) –   South Korean authorities have detained five senior citizens, some in their seventies, during a raid on an alleged illegal gambling operation.

According to a report by JTBC, police from the Incheon Yeonsu District Police Station discovered people wagering on go-stop card games in the basement of an apartment building.

The identities of those arrested were not disclosed, though police confirmed one suspect was a woman in her sixties. A spokesperson stated others were in their seventies.

The raid was conducted at 3 p.m. KST on April 5 following a tip from a local resident, investigators stated.

Authorities reported that while several individuals tried to escape, all were successfully detained.

At the location, officers confiscated a deck of hwatu cards, used to play go-stop, along with an unspecified sum of money.

South Korean Septuagenarians Face Gambling Wrap

Police stated the property is owned by the female suspect, who allegedly used it to “host gambling sessions.”

Detectives said participants paid her a fee for each arranged session. The remaining four individuals were held for interrogation on suspicion of gambling offenses.

The betting rules involved losers paying winners 3,000 won ($2) per game, plus a 1,000 won ($0.67) bonus per point, according to police.

The group had gathered to play around 50 times before the police action. All suspects have been formally charged, though the inquiry remains open.

Police noted some detainees have previous gambling records and described the amounts wagered as “substantial.”

Controversial Crackdowns

Crackdowns on go-stop gambling by police and prosecutors have drawn varied responses. Last year, South Korean commentators criticized prosecutors for pursuing a Supreme Court case against a 69-year-old man accused of gambling on go-stop with friends.

The man won a pot of $79 and had planned to spend most of it on fried chicken and beer for the group.

Commentators labeled the sum “pocket change.” An elderly resident of Northern Seoul told CasinoBeats the case appeared “quite frivolous for judges and public prosecutors to spend time and money on.”

Conversely, some argue gambling-related crime is a growing issue among older populations. A media report this year observed retirees gathering in Seoul parks to bet on board games such as go and janggi, a game similar to Chinese chess.

Reports from other regions have also documented elderly groups gambling in structurally unsound buildings.