Korea is one of the most welcoming and advanced nations globally.
While the nation entertains tourists and foreign visitors worldwide, it enforces strict policies towards online entertainment, such as gambling.
While it is true that gambling is considered one of the most famous pastimes among citizens, there are certain restrictions to its adoption in the mainstream market.
That leads us to the question, is it safe to play slot machines in Korea?
Playing slot machines, as well as other types of casino games, are free for visitors on guided tours.
However, gambling is banned for citizens and foreigners in South Korea.
This is a policy by the government to curb compulsive gambling among its citizens. Despite this, we must admit that many people in the country still engage in playing casino games, including slots.
According to casino expert and tipster, Wang Mi-Sun, “대한민국에서 슬롯무료체험 사이트를 즐기는 모든 외부인들은 무료 슬롯머신 체험과 무료 스핀 게임을 포함한 다수의 특전을 누릴 수 있습니다. 그에 반해 한국 거주자들은 이 도박의 어떠한 특전도 누릴 수 없고 즐길 수도 없죠. 하지만 많은 플레이어들은 해외 도박 사이트를 통해 게임을 즐기고 있는 것으로 알려져 있습니다. 즉, 이러한 경로를 모르는 사람들에게만 특전과 즐거움은 국한되어 있다고 할 수 있지요. ” (“All outsiders who enjoy slot free trial sites in Korea can enjoy a number of perks including free slot machine experience and free spin games. On the other hand, residents of South Korea cannot enjoy or enjoy any of the perks of this gambling. However, many players are known to enjoy playing through offshore gambling sites. In other words, the perks and pleasures are limited to those who do not know these routes.”)
This article discusses all you must know about accessing slot machines in Korea. Read on for more information.
What is South Korea’s Stance on Casino Gambling?
The South Korean government holds a stringent policy against casino gambling within its borders.
However, it entertains many tourists with different interests and desires. Thus, the government permitted casino gambling for tourists.
Regardless, locals are banned from patronizing any tourist casinos and will face a three-year prison sentence for doing so.
In addition, any citizen caught playing at any casino in any foreign country will be prosecuted once they return to the country.
Moreover, these charges are seldom brought up and are usually added with other serious charges to enforce longer convictions.
Can I Play on Online Casinos in Korea?
The government has strictly prohibited most forms of online gambling, including online casinos. The nation’s government is proactively enforcing it.
The South Korean National Intelligence Service recently reported that North Korea has started running iGaming platforms supporting South Korean, Malaysian, and Chinese players.
The agency added that their counterpart’s gambling platforms intended to skyrocket the revenue of North Korea’s dictatorial leadership.
In addition, several foreign organizations offer internet gambling platforms that support South Korean gamblers.
And, since they’re not under the country’s laws, they can’t be affected directly. Even still, the government either slowed the locals’ connections or blocked their access to these servers.
As an alternative solution, gambling pundits within the country use VPNs to change the locations of their IP addresses and connect from remote servers.
Also, there’s a collection of illegal local online casinos that enable online slot machine services over the internet.
However, similarly to their customers, these illegal game providers are liable to state prosecution.
Is it Legal to Play Slot Machines in South Korea?
Gambling on online casinos in South Korea is permitted only to foreigners in the country but totally prohibits the locals.
According to the nation’s laws, casino gambling is regulated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (the “MCST”) and legalized under the Tourism Promotion Act.
It’s worth noting that while playing slot machines isn’t illegal, playing in the industry is highly restricted. This is because the country is firmly against gambling.
All the same, foreigners are permitted to gamble in locally-based casinos.
Is it Legal to Play Slot Machines in North Korea?
Since both countries share a border, it is important also to mention how this rule applies to North Korea.
While gambling is banned for locals, it’s available for foreign visitors on guided tours.
The casino industry in North Korea began in the 1990s when investors from Macau and Hong Kong were permitted to operate casinos.
The government allowed this to attract gamblers from China since gambling in China was (and is) illegal.
At the time of writing, there’s only one official casino in North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang. This casino offers slot machine gambling to foreigners but not to citizens.
Also, citizens aren’t permitted to indulge in any form of gambling since the DPRK federal government enforces stringent regulations against citizens.
Thus, by limiting the possibility of citizens accessing the internet, the government ensures maximum security against possible defaulters.
Though, locals can only gain access to the internet via a free local network known as Kwangmyong—which is highly censored. It’s worth noting that only a handful of citizens have internet access nationwide.
Conclusion
If you’re wondering if it’s possible to play slot games in Korea, the answer is “yes!”— for guided tourists. Moreover, this luck isn’t available for the locals or foreigners in either country.
The activity is highly prohibited for citizens.
Looking around at their neighbors in the North, visitors on guided tours have access to only one domestic casino in the country’s capital.
However, online casinos in South Korea are only allowed to work if they are regulated by the national regulatory agency and comply with the Tourist Promotion Act.
Anything other than that is subject to strict prosecution.