Sports betting in South Korea
Updated:
Recently, lots of South Korean residents have been developing a taste for online gambling. There are a number of reasons for this, but perhaps the leading factor is the success of countryman Son Heung-Min playing in the English Premier League since signing for Tottenham Hotspurs.
Read on if you’re looking to get to grips with this rising market, therefore, as we’re offering an in-depth picture of online betting in South Korea.
List of Korean betting sites
Found: 10 Bookmakers
| Rank | Bookmaker | Bonus | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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100% bonus on the first deposit up to 130,000 KRW 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to 1xBet website |
| 2 |
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Welcome Bonus up to 160,000 KRW 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to 22bet website |
| 3 |
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Welcome Bonus 100% up to €100 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to 20bet website |
| 4 |
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100% bonus on the first deposit up to $150 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to Ivibet website |
| 5 |
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100% bonus on the first deposit up to 119,000 KRW 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to Melbet website |
| 6 |
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100% bonus on the first deposit up to 140,623 KRW 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to Betwinner website |
| 7 |
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100% bonus on the first deposit up to 135,000 KRW & take part in Billionaire's Megarace 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to Megapari website |
| 8 |
|
Welcoma package up to €1000 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to Pribet website |
| 9 |
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Sign up and get a bonus up to 20,000$ 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to BC.GAME website |
| 10 |
|
100% bonus on the first deposit up to $500 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to Mystake website |
South Korea sports betting – the ultimate guide
Updated:
South Korean sports betting: what you should know
Before betting in South Korea you should read this article, which has everything you need to get started.
South Korea sports betting has always been popular but the launch of online betting brought the joys of gambling to a new audience. Millions of sports fans now love making predictions on their favourite teams and backing those picks in the betting.
The bookmakers listed on this page allow you to do just that. You can bet using your home computer or mobile app. You can gamble on the top sports and competitions with dozens of markets to choose from in upcoming fixtures. The best betting sites in Korea will even give you a welcome bonus free bet when you sign up.
History of sports betting in Korea
But before defining these exceptions, it’s important to clarify that the Korean government actually incites foreigners visiting their land to gamble. Currently, there are a total of 23 casinos based in the peninsula and, although Korean residents can be sent to jail for attending the majority of these casinos, the same doesn’t apply to foreigners, who are allowed to gamble as much as they wish.
That doesn’t always stop Koreans though, as the vast majority of the population can speak fluent English, so they are not too far away from becoming a gambling nation.
Check out some curious facts regarding betting in Korea:
- Koreans can face up to three years in jail if caught attending casinos abroad
- Kangwon Land Casino & Hotel is the only casino based in South Korea that Koreans can actually attend without major restrictions
- Poker and football are the most popular gambling sports in South Korea
- Tottenham Hotspurs have become the most popular football team in South Korea
Even so, although the majority of casinos are forbidden to Koreans there is one they can actually attend: the Kangwon Land Casino & Hotel. With being located in a very remote area of the peninsula, the casino has been cunning enough to extend its customer base. Joking aside, however, Koreans still need to be aware of the intricacies of government concessions, being able to attend Kangwon for only 15 days of the month.
| 🌍 Country | South Korea |
| 👌 Language | Korean |
| 💲 Currency | Won / ₩ |
| ⚽ Popular sports | Football, Formula 1, tennis |
| ⚖️ Is betting legal | Yes |
| 🏢 Regulator | Ministry of Science and ICT |
| 🧾 Gambling taxes | Only applies to bookmakers |
| 💳 Most popular payment methods | Neteller, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard |
There are a number of reasons why the local government doesn’t want its citizens involved with gambling too much, one of which is the general idea of the consequences of gambling addiction. This is perhaps why we don’t see Korean versions of all the best betting sites.
Mobile betting in South Korea
South Korea is notorious for having a high-tech population and these qualities are just as clear as far as mobile betting is concerned. You’ll find plenty of options for mobile online betting in Korea, including the most famous bookies worldwide, such as Betway and Pinnacle.
With bookies of such caliber, you can expect the same standards of quality in the provision of a high-end mobile experience. Plus, Korean punters can get some juicy bonuses as well.
Live betting is another very important factor to be considered when ranking bookies for the enjoyable mobile betting experiences they offer to Korean punters.
| 💯 Available betting features | Accumulator, Bet builder, Live stream, Cashout |
| 🏇 Popular gambling activities | Casino, sports betting, horse betting, lottery |
| 🗝️ Keep in mind | More recently, South Koreans have started to be big on betting for a number of reasons. |
| 🔣 Popular types of odds | Fractional odds |
| 📈 Advantages | There are additional options to bet through sports toto and sports proto in addition to overseas bookies |
| 📉 Disadvantages | The 22% gambling tax can eventually increase to 30% |
With that said, we’ve picked the following:
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18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org
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18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org
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18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org
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18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org
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18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org
Top 3 South Korea betting apps
The best applications provide comfort and usability for their punters. Today, we’ll take a look at some of the best applications available within your country of South Africa, which offer an optimised betting app or mobile site for you to use.
22bet betting app
- Football jackpot
- Live broadcasts every month
- Top 5 in the betting market variety
- Loads of withdrawal options
18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org
Legality of Betting in South Korea
Sports betting in Korea continues to grow in popularity at an impressive rate. Gamblers in the region bet legally with licensed bookmakers from overseas. The most famous names in the industry offer betting odds on your favourite sports and are accepting new players from South Korea today.
You can join a licensed bookie and place bets on the sports you love but, to do so, you must have an account registered. This can be done in just a few minutes via our site. Browse the list of sports betting apps and click the link to get started.
Is sports betting legal in Korea?
Online sports betting in Korea can be done using Sports Toto and Sports Proto.
Online betting in South Korea
The aim of this review into Korean betting sites is to advise gamblers of the best, most modern and generous bookies around. Our team has researched the industry in detail, comparing the odds, offers, sports and even the mobile apps of the top firms targeting customers in South Korea.
Only after conducting many hours of professional research did we find ourselves in a position to publish our recommendations. Browse the Korean betting sites that appeal to you and click the link of your chosen bookie to get started. From there, you can register for an account quickly, deposit funds using an e-wallet or debit account, then place bets on your favourite sports.
Each of the Korean betting sites listed offers a welcome bonus to new customers. These come in the form of a free bet, risk-free bet or enhanced odds and will be added to your betting account balance when your first bet has been placed on the site.
The South Korea betting sites offering new customers a free bet when they sign up often make the amount equal to your first deposit. So, the more you add to your betting account with your first deposit, the bigger your bonus will be.
South Korea sports betting sites
For most of our readers, this will be the most important section of our review. Here, you’ll find details of the betting sites in South Korea we believe are worth your custom. These apps are legal, secure and exciting to use. They offer customers a welcome bonus free bet as well as a list of recurring promos for both new and existing players.
Look through the list and choose the bookie that most appeals to you. Click the link to that betting site, and your journey will begin. We are confident in recommending any of the sites covered on this page and believe they will give our readers a fantastic online betting experience. The only difficult part will be choosing.
There’s nothing saying you must stick to just one betting app. You can open an account with more than one site and collect the free bet welcome bonus offered by each. This strategy also increases your chances of getting market-best odds on every bet you place.
Best betting sites in Korea:
Top 5 betting sites in Korea with the greatest bonuses
Everyone loves great bonuses and we obviously recommend trying to claim as many as possible, as it’s basically free money coming from sportsbooks.
While some bookies will gain attention due to the number of bonuses offered, others will offer a higher percentage in the first deposit, or even hand out more free bets as a way of making up for it.
There are also those who offer sky-high odds in order to tempt you with the possibility of boosting your punting profits.
Check out the best bookies with the best bonuses for sports betting in Korea:
- 22Bet
- Pinnacle
- 188BET
- Betway
- Dafabet
22bey has bonuses for all bettors in South Korea
22Bet is a great option for those who want different types of bonuses. Apart from that, they offer a great welcome bonus of 123.400 KRW for new bettors, which could be used to bet in any sports available on their platform.
18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org
Top 3 legal bookmakers in South Korea
International bookies can legally operate in South Korea and, if you’re an experienced punter, you might already be familiar with the quality of the highest-rated international sportsbooks.
Our criteria for this section involves a blend of robust gambling licenses alongside a good online reputation and, obviously, their popularity amongst Koreans.
Check out the top 3 legal bookies in Korea:
- Betway
- 188BET
- Dafabet
Recommended payment methods for South Korea bettors
As with the benefits highlighted in previous sections, the most ideal payment methods can also be accessed via betting sites in Korea. Skrill is one of the largest spread methods in the peninsula when it comes to sports betting, while you can also use Visa.
However, it is also imperative to mention some local payment methods, as these are some of the most commonly used in Korea. In this context, we list KakaoPay as one of the most accessible and common payment options for Korean bettors to use.
| Bookmaker | Visa | MasterCard | Skrill | Neteller |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
15,000/30,000,000 WON | 15,000/30,000,000 WON | 15,000/9,000,000 WON | 15,000/9,000,000 WON |
 |
15,000/30,000,000 WON | 15,000/30,000,000 WON | 15,000/9,000,000 WON | 15,000/9,000,000 WON |
 |
15,000/30,000,000 WON | 15,000/30,000,000 WON | 15,000/9,000,000 WON | 15,000/9,000,000 WON |
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Skrill
The e-Wallet Skrill is available for South Korean bettors.
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Visa
Korean punters can use this gigantic brand to process their transactions with bookies
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Neteller
A great e-Wallet known worldwide for their great service
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MasterCard
Even though this brand is not used by many, it is still a good option for sports betting
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Available countries
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Sports
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Payment systems
