North Korea has been labeled as the “Hermit Kingdom” because of the fact that it remains closed to the rest of the world. Nevertheless, the nation has the sport culture like other nations in the world. However, when it comes to gambling, especially through bookmakers and sports betting, North Korea has a rather specific and dynamically developing situation. This article focuses on the North Korea bookmakers, the history of the sports betting laws, and the current state of the gambling laws.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
Gambling Laws of North Korea Bookmakers
Early Beginnings
The history of gambling in North Korea begins from the 1950s, thus making it a country that has embraced gambling for some time now. The first organized lottery which was known as the ‘Motherland Defense Territory’ lottery was not successful. The government tried it again in the 1990s, the ‘People’s Lottery’, this time offering a $235 million prize, which, it was said, was to go towards state programs.
Recent Developments
North Korea opened up its first legal gambling center, in the form of horse racing at the Mirim Horse Racing Club in Pyongyang in 2017. The current betting system in use is a raffle type of system and not the online betting system which is common in most other countries. This system has the lowest chances, and some North Koreans dare to place bets online, although it is prohibited.
Key Dates and Legislation
- 1950s: Presentation of the ‘Motherland Defense Territory’ lottery.
- 1990s: The proposal of what can be referred to as the ‘People’s Lottery’.
- 2002: Initiation of the first ever online lottery in Pyongyang which was later on ceased.
- 2017: The legalizing of horse racing betting at Mirim Horse Racing Club
Regulatory Agencies and Licensing
North Korea also has a gambling sector where bookmakers are part of, and all these are under the firm regulation of the government. The supreme organization controlling gambling business is the Workers’ Party of Korea. The state regulate both the legal and the illegal forms of gambling which include the online betting.
Licensing and Fees
Unfortunately, the information about the licensing fees and kinds is not disclosed to the public but it is known that all kinds of legal gambling including lotteries and horse racing are regulated by the state. The government of North Korea practically does not allow its citizens to engage in gambling; only some activities are available for tourists only, for example, the casino located in the Yanggakdo International Hotel.
Gambling Taxes
The particular tax rates for gambling activities are not specified; however, it is clear that the revenues generated from the state-regulated gambling activities are supposed to be spent on the state’s needs and objectives. For instance, half of the funds raised from the ‘People’s Lottery’ was to be given to state funds.
Prohibited and Allowed Bets
Allowed Bets
- Horse Racing: The citizens of the county who are 12 years and above are allowed to engage in betting at the Mirim Horse Racing Club.
- Lotteries: There are a number of state sanctioned lotteries, however information on current lotteries is limited.
Prohibited Bets
- Online Gambling: They are strictly forbidden with the exception of their use in government-sanctioned matters.
- Casinos: Only tourists are allowed to enter, while the local people are not allowed to participate in any way.
North Korea Sports Betting – An Insight
North Korea has no significant form of sports betting and the only existing one is horse racing with a raffle system. This system gives the least favorable payout than most normal online betting sites; hence, some people from the area engage in online betting. Due to the government’s strict measures on gambling, engaging in unauthorized betting is rather dangerous.
Sporting Milestones
- 1966: The North Korean national football has made it to the FIFA World Cup.
- 2010: The team thus booked their place in the FIFA World Cup for the second time after a long time.
- 2001 & 2003: The women’s national football team has clinched the title of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
- 1999, 2003, 2011: The women team was able to secure a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- 2012: Kim Un Guk of North Korea has won the Olympic gold medal in Weightlifting.
Conclusion
The environment of North Korea bookmakers and sports betting is significantly complicated and controlled. Even though the state has laid down some provisions that permit some types of gambling like horse racing, it has tightly regulated others like online betting. The isolated country’s attitude towards gambling illustrates its general tendencies towards the control and regulation. As the society develops and transforms, the laws and rules concerning gambling will also change in the future. Appreciating these complexities is to get a glimpse of the special system of North Korean sports betting.
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