Online Casinos in North Korea: What You Need to Know

North Korea’s Role in International Gambling Website Creation

While gambling is strictly prohibited within North Korea, the regime has taken a remarkably different approach internationally. Over the past decade, North Korea has become an active developer and distributor of online gambling websites, targeting foreign markets such as South Korea, China, and Southeast Asia. These websites are often created by skilled North Korean IT workers operating abroad under false identities. The platforms are sold to organized crime groups for profit, sometimes bundled with malicious software used to conduct cyberattacks. These activities are coordinated by state-linked entities like Gyeongheung Information Technology, tied to Room 39, which manages illicit revenue generation for the regime.

Notable Insight:

These websites look like legitimate casinos, but are often designed with hidden malicious code or user-tracking systems.