Is online gambling legal in North Korea?

VPN use to reach foreign gambling sites is strictly prohibited for citizens and can lead to severe punishment. No formal, independent dispute resolution exists, and North Korean state actors are known to operate illegal online gambling sites targeting foreigners.

Online gambling is not legal here. Playing on offshore sites can get you into legal trouble.

Online sports betting is only partly legal in North Korea (partial). Online casino is banned in North Korea. Online poker is banned in North Korea. The lottery is only partly legal in North Korea (partial).

Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from North Korea: Illegal. Use of VPNs by citizens to bypass state controls and access the global internet is strictly forbidden and subject to severe punishment.

Gambling with crypto: Banned for citizens. While the state itself engages in cryptocurrency theft and uses it for illicit revenue, personal use by citizens is strictly prohibited.

We have no record of a minimum gambling age in North Korea. Locals banned; foreigners only in limited zones.

Domestic gambling is criminalised. The single licensed casino serves foreign visitors only.

There are approximately 3 licensed operators in North Korea as of 8 Oct 2026.

No national licence for online gambling exists here, so a site taking deposits from players in North Korea is not licensed locally, whatever licence it shows from elsewhere.

Prominent operators in North Korea

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  Assume all non-state gambling is illegal

  For North Korean citizens, any gambling outside of the state-sanctioned 'Samhung' mobile app or Mirim horse racing is a criminal offense. For foreigners, only gamble inside the officially designated casinos.

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  Never use a VPN for gambling

  Accessing foreign gambling sites via a VPN is strictly prohibited for citizens and can lead to severe punishment. The state heavily monitors all internet traffic.

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  Treat investment offers with extreme caution

  Proposals to invest in North Korean gambling ventures, such as the Ryugyong Hotel casino, are exceptionally high-risk and may involve entities under international sanctions. Independent due diligence is nearly impossible.

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  Beware of state-sponsored scam sites

  North Korean state actors are known to operate illegal online gambling sites targeting foreigners to generate revenue. These sites offer no player protection, may be used for espionage, and could contain malware.

What the rules mean for bonus offers you see in North Korea. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.

We have no record of a national self-exclusion scheme or problem-gambling helpline in North Korea. The law does not require licensed sites to offer deposit limits. Reality checks (reminders of how long you have played) are not required.

1. 1

   1. For Foreign Tourists

   No formal, independent dispute resolution mechanism exists. Any disputes within a designated foreigner-only casino must be resolved with the on-site management, which is state-controlled. There is no external regulatory body or ombudsman to appeal to.

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   2. For Domestic Users

   For users of the state-run 'Samhung' mobile betting app, there is no public information regarding a dispute process. Users have no known recourse outside of the state-controlled operator itself.

• Myth

  Gambling is completely illegal in North Korea.
  Reality

  This is mostly true for citizens, but with exceptions. The state operates foreigner-only casinos and has recently launched a state-controlled mobile lottery and sports betting service for its own population on the national intranet, in addition to limited horse race betting.

• Myth

  I can use a VPN to access foreign betting sites from North Korea.
  Reality

  This is false and extremely dangerous. VPN use by citizens is strictly illegal and subject to severe punishment. The state's intranet is also largely disconnected from the global internet, which makes such access technically difficult and highly risky.

• Myth

  Casino winnings are paid out in local currency.
  Reality

  False. The foreigner-only casinos exist to generate hard currency for the state. All transactions and payouts are conducted in foreign currencies, such as the US Dollar, Euro, or Chinese Yuan.