South Korea Casino Bonuses

Welcome Bonuses

The welcome bonus, which is offered by online casinos in South Korea to newcomers on their first or first few deposits, is unquestionably a player favorite. Its specific figures are not the same among different operators, but it usually consists of a deposit match bonus up to a certain maximum amount only sometimes supplemented with free spins.

No Deposit Bonuses

These are fairly self-explanatory and not very common. If you come across a no-deposit bonus, you will find out that it comes with high wagering requirements and an upper withdrawal limit typically not exceeding $100. Despite the difficult conditions, players do not lose anything and can even increase their bankroll. This is the reason for the incentive’s popularity.

Game-Exclusive Promotions

In order to promote new titles in their gaming libraries, and to maintain relatively even usage of all options, online casinos often run short-term promotions related to a particular game. In most cases, they include free spins that must be used within a specified time period.

Brick-and-Mortar Casinos

Playing slots or table games in a physical premise is almost unthinkable among South Koreans, with all but one land-based casinos catering solely to tourists and long-term expatriates. The only exception is Kangwon Casino, which is quite difficult to reach since it is situated far north of the major cities, at the base of a ski resort. However, its annual turnover is usually as much as all other establishments combined.

According to the country’s legislation, locals who are caught gambling at a tourist casino will face a prison sentence. Furthermore, any citizen detected gambling while abroad may be subject to prosecution upon their return to the country.

South Koreans are not completely deprived of placing bets, however, none of the permitted forms falls within the casino category. The oldest of these is horse race betting, which was legalized at the outset of South Korea’s legislative process. This was quickly followed by betting on boat races and cycling, as well as the introduction of a national lottery. To be eligible for placing bets on any of these gambling categories, Korean players need to be at least 18 years old.

Online Gambling

Dealing with online betting while in South Korea is a real challenge as Internet monitoring in the country is quite permeative and there is a great chance for the connection with your chosen casino to be suddenly blocked. Furthermore, due to their implied duties, banks routinely terminate web gaming transactions. A good alternative could be cryptocurrencies, and in particular, Bitcoin, as they provide a high degree of security and, above all, anonymity.

Despite these and a number of other restrictive measures, laws governing online gambling are actually difficult to enforce. A major reason for this is the rapid development of modern technology in recent years.

One strategy that local players have adopted is using a VPN service. Virtual private networks enable gamblers to hide their true location and access blocked casino websites that accept South Korean players. Thus the risk of being prosecuted by the country’s law enforcement agencies is greatly reduced. This does not mean that the activity is legal, but that it is very difficult (if at all possible) to detect. There is still no indication that VPNs will be included in anti-gambling legislation.