South Korea Enlists Esports Star Faker to Combat Online Gambling Surge
Online gambling has been in the news a fair bit recently, with the ease of getting into online sportsbook betting becoming a hotly contested issue in the United States and popular prediction markets being subjected to increased controversy and government scrutiny.
Online gambling has been in the news a fair bit recently, with the ease of getting into online sportsbook betting becoming a hotly contested issue in the United States and popular prediction markets being subjected to increased controversy and government scrutiny.
Online gambling is a growing concern globally, with South Korea witnessing a rise in illicit activities, especially among the youth. To address this, the government has partnered with renowned esports player Lee Sang-hyeok, known as Faker, appointing him as an honorary police officer. Faker will create public service content to support South Korea's Youth Cyber Gambling Voluntary Reporting System, offering his autographed uniform as an incentive for participants.
Lee's appointment is not his first honor, having previously received the Cheongnyong Medal and gaining recognition beyond esports. His involvement highlights the government's efforts to tackle online gambling issues, contrasting with Riot Games' decision to allow sports-betting sponsorships for League of Legends teams over a year ago.
