Just when the casino gambling scene was looking very optimistic in Asia, South Korea has began cracking down (literally) on more alleged illegal gambling rings. Reuters news sources have reported that South Korean Police have began a massive campaign in the city of Ulsan, where they have seized nearly seven-hundred computers that were allegedly being used in an illegal online gambling ring. Additionally, South Korean police officers have started smashing the computers with mallets and hammers so that the information stored on the hard drives is lost forever.

According to the Police, there are many internet cafes in South Korea, which are being used - predominately by adults- for gambling at online casinos, playing poker and making horse racing and sports bets. These cafes, which are called PC Baangs, are usually packed with teenagers playing the latest virtual video games.

However, a new type of cafe catering to adults (Adult PC Baangs) have begun to spring up throughout South Korea due to a loophole in legislation that permits the cafes to award gift certificates to players who can cash them out after paying a ten percent commission to the establishment. The Culture Ministry of the South Korean Government reported that over $31 billion had been awarded in gift certificates for the last year alone. With figures like these, there is no doubt that South Korea is one of the most gambling-hungry nations in the world.

Perhaps this is due to the South Korean government's strict crackdown? Or, perhaps the crackdown is warranted and more legislation needs to be put into place to curb an excess in gambling activities. What is certain is that the South Korean Police promises to continue uprooting the Adult PC Baangs, which they estimate to exceed four-thousand total. And with an estimated 15,000 video casino bars in operation as well, which allegedly allow real-money gambling on video slot machines.