South Korea’s Lotte Giants gambling scandal draws scrutiny
The gambling controversy involving four players from South Korea’s Lotte Giants has drawn criticism in Japan and attention from international scouts in Taiwan, according to a local media report.
The Chosun Daily reported that Lotte Giants confirmed that Na Seung-yeop, Ko Seung-min, Kim Dong-hyuk and Kim Se-min visited a venue classified as illegal under Taiwanese law during their spring training camp.
Japanese outlet KoukouYakyuu.com reported the case, outlining possible sanctions under the KBO League. Under league rules, gambling may lead to a suspension of at least one month, a ban from 30 or more games, or a fine starting from three million Korean won. Final penalties depend on the investigation.
According to several media reports, the issue escalated after CCTV footage circulated online on 13 February, allegedly showing players at a PC room in Taiwan. One scene appeared to show inappropriate physical contact with a female staff member, prompting public criticism on social media.
Lotte conducted an internal review and confirmed the players had visited an illegal venue. The club said the four would be repatriated for breaching league and team regulations and that the matter would be reported to the KBO Clean Baseball Centre, which oversees integrity issues.
Strict gambling laws in South Korea
The case has also highlighted South Korea’s restrictive gambling framework. Gambling for citizens is largely prohibited, with limited exceptions such as the state-run lottery, regulated sports betting and horse racing.
The only casino where South Korean nationals may legally gamble is Kangwon Land. All other domestic casinos operate exclusively for foreign visitors.
Online gambling is broadly illegal for South Koreans. Authorities block access to offshore gambling sites and pursue enforcement against individuals who participate. South Korean law applies extraterritorially, which means citizens can face prosecution for gambling abroad.
Penalties for illegal gambling can include fines of up to KRW20 million ($13,868) and prison sentences of up to three years for repeat or habitual offenders.
Oversight of gambling policy and compliance falls under the National Gambling Control Commission, which coordinates responsible gambling measures, addiction prevention and enforcement efforts. Casinos are regulated under the Tourism Promotion Act, while sports betting is governed by the National Sports Promotion Act. All legal operators must be licensed.
National focus on gambling addiction
The case comes amid renewed political scrutiny of gambling in South Korea. In December 2025, President Lee Jae-myung publicly questioned whether existing data accurately captures the scale of gambling addiction in the country. Speaking during a government briefing in Sejong, he called for policy to be based on verified statistics rather than assumptions.
The discussion centred on Kangwon Land, the only casino where South Korean citizens are legally permitted to gamble. While the venue has been promoted as an economic anchor for a former mining region, it has also been linked to addiction concerns. The President pressed casino officials on whether harm levels were rising or falling and instructed the Presidential Secretariat to conduct an independent review of addiction data.
Scouts monitor disciplinary outcome
According to the reports, the Lotte case has become a topic among scouts from Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball based in Taiwan for spring evaluations.
Lotte is scheduled to travel to Miyazaki, Japan, on 20 February for their second spring camp. The KBO has yet to announce final sanctions.
Stay in the loop and join the biggest iGaming Community in the world with SiGMA’s Top 10 news countdown. Subscribe HERE for weekly updates from the world’s iGaming authority and exclusive subscriber-only offers.
