Is Gambling Legal in North Korea? Casino, Lottery & Betting Laws 2025

Key Information

Last Update 2025

Regulatory Authority No formal regulatory authority; activities are overseen by state organs such as Office 39.

License Cost Varies

Regulation by Activity Type

Casinos Regulated

Online Casinos Regulated

Betting Prohibited

Online Betting Prohibited

Lotteries Regulated

Poker Regulated

Highlights

All forms of gambling are strictly prohibited for North Korean citizens, both domestically and abroad.
Casinos exist in North Korea but are exclusively accessible to foreign tourists, not locals.
There is no formal licensing framework for private gambling operators within North Korea.
Horse racing was permitted for locals at the Mirim Horse Racing Club starting in 2017, but betting is tightly controlled.
State-run entities, such as Office 39, are reportedly involved in illegal gambling operations for foreign currency revenue.
North Korea has a history of organizing national lotteries, with records dating back to the 1950s.
Online gambling is not legally available to citizens, but North Korea is known to develop gambling websites for export, often linked to cybercrime.

Legislation

Primary Legislation

Gambling in North Korea is governed by a strict legal framework that prohibits gambling for its own citizens. The core legal structure is based on general criminal law provisions that ban most forms of gambling activity for North Korean nationals, both within the country and abroad. There is no publicly available, detailed standalone gambling law; instead, prohibitions are enforced through broader criminal statutes that cover all types of betting and games of chance. Exceptions exist only for certain activities permitted exclusively for foreigners, such as casino gambling in designated facilities.

Regulatory Authority

Oversight and enforcement of gambling laws in North Korea are managed by central governmental authorities, primarily under the direction of the Ministry of People’s Security and other state security organs. These bodies are responsible for:

Implementing and enforcing criminal prohibitions on gambling for North Korean citizens
Overseeing the operation of gambling venues open exclusively to foreigners
Monitoring compliance with national laws and regulations related to gambling activities

License Types

Types of Gambling Licenses in North Korea

North Korea does not operate a transparent or formalized public licensing system for gambling activities as seen in most other jurisdictions. Gambling is officially prohibited for North Korean citizens, but certain gambling activities are permitted exclusively for foreigners, primarily in designated casinos and specific venues. There is no evidence of a standardized set of license categories (such as casino, sports betting, or online gambling) publicly available for application by domestic or foreign operators.

Application Process for Gambling Licenses

The application process for operating gambling venues in North Korea is not publicly documented. Gambling establishments, such as casinos, are typically run under state control or through special arrangements with foreign partners, often as joint ventures.
Licenses or operating rights are generally granted through direct negotiation with North Korean authorities or state-owned enterprises, rather than an open application or tender process.
There is no publicly accessible information about standardized forms, required documentation, or procedural steps for license application.

Duration, Renewal Conditions, and Eligibility

Eligibility is typically limited to foreign investors or operators who enter into agreements with North Korean authorities, with no provision for North Korean citizens or domestic companies to obtain gambling licenses for public-facing operations.

Licensing Costs, Fees, and Financial Requirements

There is no official fee schedule or published cost structure for gambling licenses in North Korea.
Reports indicate that North Korea may charge significant sums for access to gambling website infrastructure or casino operations, but these are not standardized licensing fees and are instead negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
For example, in the context of online gambling infrastructure offered to foreign entities, North Korea has reportedly charged around $5,000 per month for website rental, with additional fees for technical support. These arrangements, however, are not part of a formal licensing regime and are not available to the general public.

Key Requirements for Obtaining and Maintaining Licenses

There are no publicly available, codified requirements for obtaining or maintaining a gambling license in North Korea.
Operators must have direct connections with North Korean authorities or state-owned enterprises and typically operate under strict government oversight.
All gambling operations must exclude North Korean citizens and cater exclusively to foreigners, in line with the country’s official stance on gambling.

Summary Table: Gambling Licensing System in North Korea

Aspect	Details
License Types	No formal categories; operations limited to foreigners, typically via state-controlled venues or special arrangements
Application Process	Direct negotiation with authorities; no public application process
Duration & Renewal	Not publicly disclosed; dependent on negotiated agreements
Eligibility	Foreign operators only, via state partnership or special arrangement
Costs & Fees	No official structure; fees negotiated per arrangement (e.g., $5,000/month for online gambling infrastructure)
Key Requirements	Direct government partnership, exclusion of North Korean citizens, strict oversight

In summary, North Korea does not have a transparent or formal public licensing system for gambling. All operational rights are granted through direct negotiation with government authorities, with costs, requirements, and conditions determined on a case-by-case basis and not subject to public disclosure or standardized procedures.

Gambling Tax

Tax Rates for Gambling Operators in North Korea

Detailed and official information regarding the specific tax rates applied to gambling operators in North Korea is not publicly available. North Korea's gambling activities are extremely limited and primarily targeted at foreigners, with operations such as the Imperial Hotel and Casino. There is no evidence of a publicly codified or transparent tax regime for gambling operators, and the government does not publish tax rates or regulatory guidance for these entities.

Basis for Taxation

The basis for taxation (such as Gross Gaming Revenue, turnover, or other metrics) for gambling operators in North Korea is not disclosed in any publicly accessible government documents or international regulatory databases.

Tax Reporting and Payment Requirements

There are no published procedures for tax reporting or payment for gambling operators in North Korea.
Foreign-operated casinos or gambling establishments (serving only foreigners) may be subject to internal agreements with government authorities, but these arrangements are not disclosed to the public or international observers.

Tax Incentives, Exemptions, or Special Provisions

No information is available regarding specific tax incentives, exemptions, or special provisions for gambling operators in North Korea.

Summary Table: Gambling Taxation in North Korea

Aspect	Status/Information
Tax Rates	Not publicly disclosed
Basis for Taxation
Reporting Requirements	No public procedures
Payment Procedures	Not disclosed
Incentives/Exemptions	Not available

In summary, North Korea does not maintain a transparent or standardized tax system for gambling operators. All available evidence suggests that any taxation or financial arrangements related to gambling operations are managed privately by the state and are not subject to public disclosure.

Prohibited Individuals

Age Restrictions and Identification Requirements

Gambling in North Korea is subject to extremely strict limitations. North Korean citizens are generally prohibited from participating in any form of gambling, including at casinos. The only known exception was a brief period in 2017 when citizens were reportedly allowed to gamble on horse racing at the Mirim Horse Racing Club. However, this was a highly controlled environment and not a general relaxation of gambling restrictions. Foreigners may access certain casinos, but North Korean citizens are not permitted. There are no publicly available details on age verification or identification requirements for North Korean citizens, as gambling is almost entirely off-limits to them.

Prohibited Activities and Specific Game Restrictions

All forms of gambling are prohibited for North Korean citizens, both within the country and abroad.
Casinos operating in North Korea are exclusively for foreign visitors; citizens are strictly barred from entry and participation.
Online gambling is not permitted for citizens, and there is no legal online gambling market targeting North Koreans.
Sports betting, lotteries, and other gambling activities are generally banned for citizens, with the rare exception of state-sanctioned events such as the 2017 horse racing experiment.
Unlawful gambling, including participation in illegal betting or gaming activities, is subject to severe penalties.

Advertising and Marketing Limitations

Advertising or promoting gambling to North Korean citizens is strictly forbidden.
There are no public gambling advertisements, and any marketing of gambling services is directed solely at foreign visitors.
Promotion of gambling to the domestic population is not tolerated and is considered a serious offense.

Responsible Gambling Requirements and Player Protection Measures

There are no formal responsible gambling frameworks or player protection measures for North Korean citizens, as legal gambling is not accessible to them.
For foreigners, any responsible gambling measures that exist are implemented at the discretion of casino operators and are not mandated by North Korean law.
The government’s approach to player protection is to prohibit gambling entirely for its citizens, thereby aiming to prevent gambling-related harm by eliminating access.

Geographic or Location Restrictions

Casinos and gambling venues are located in designated areas and are only accessible to foreign nationals; North Korean citizens are not allowed entry.
There are no legal gambling establishments open to citizens anywhere within North Korea.
Any attempt by citizens to gamble, whether domestically or abroad, is strictly prohibited and subject to legal consequences.

Timeline

Year/Date	Event
1950s	North Korea reportedly organizes national lotteries, marking the earliest known form of regulated gambling activity in the country.
1990s	First casinos open in North Korea, exclusively for foreign tourists, with the Imperial Hotel & Casino in Rason and the Pyongyang Casino in the Yanggakdo International Hotel.
2009	North Korea’s Criminal Code (Article 266) is updated to explicitly criminalize gambling by citizens, with penalties including short-term labor and, for serious cases, reeducation through labor.
2017	North Korean citizens are permitted to participate in gambling-style activities at the Mirim Horse Racing Club, a rare exception to the general prohibition on gambling for locals.

Requirements

Software Certification and Technical Standards Requirements

There are no publicly available official technical standards or software certification requirements for gambling operators in North Korea. The country's gambling operations are extremely limited and primarily serve foreign visitors in specific, state-controlled venues. There is no evidence of a formal regulatory framework mandating independent software testing, certification, or compliance with international gambling technical standards.

Data Protection, Privacy Measures, and Server Location Requirements

No official data protection or privacy regulations specific to gambling operations in North Korea are published or accessible to the international community.
There are no documented requirements regarding the physical location of servers or data storage for gambling operations.
Gambling websites reportedly operated by North Korean entities for foreign clients are often associated with cybercrime and malware, indicating a lack of legitimate data protection or privacy measures.

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) Procedures

There are no public records of formal AML or KYC procedures being enforced in North Korean gambling operations.
North Korea is widely recognized for its lack of transparency and is subject to international sanctions due to concerns over illicit financial activities.
Any gambling services offered to foreigners or via online platforms are not known to implement internationally recognized AML or KYC standards.

Financial Reporting, Auditing Standards, and Record-Keeping Requirements

There are no published requirements for financial reporting, independent auditing, or specific record-keeping standards for gambling operators in North Korea.
State-run gambling venues operate under direct government oversight, with internal controls undisclosed to outside observers.

Technical Implementation Requirements for Responsible Gambling Tools

There are no technical requirements or mandated responsible gambling tools for operators in North Korea.
Responsible gambling measures such as self-exclusion, deposit limits, or player protection tools are not documented or enforced in the country’s gambling venues or online offerings.

In summary, North Korea does not maintain or publish any formal technical or operational requirements for gambling operators in the areas of software certification, data protection, AML/KYC, financial reporting, or responsible gambling implementation. The limited gambling activities that exist are tightly controlled by the state and primarily target foreign visitors, with no evidence of adherence to international technical standards or compliance protocols.

Sources

Primary Regulatory Authorities

Due to the restrictive nature of North Korea's governance and lack of publicly available information, specific regulatory bodies for gambling are not explicitly detailed. However, the government typically oversees all activities, including any gambling-related operations.

Legislation Resources

North Korea does not provide easily accessible online resources or databases for its legislation. Information about gambling regulations is generally limited and not openly published.

Contact Information

Given the secretive nature of North Korea's government, there is no publicly available contact information for regulatory authorities specifically related to gambling.

General Government Resources

- **Naenara**: A North Korean government website that occasionally provides information on national policies and announcements, though it does not specifically address gambling regulations. For detailed and authoritative information, it is advisable to consult with international legal experts or diplomatic channels due to the lack of publicly available resources.