The Korean eSports Association (KeSPA) formally submitted a proposal to the Democratic Party-led government to legalise eSports in the country. Korean media outlet Inven believes that eSports meets all the criteria to be inducted into Korea’s regulated betting industry. KeSPA suggested creating a new category for eSports within the Sports Toto segment.
Highlights of the Story
- Sports betting is strictly regulated in South Korea, with Sports Toto being the only legal option for players.
- Players aged 20 and above can purchase lottery-style Sports Toto tickets worth up to KRW 100,000 (£54.17) from convenience stores.
- The Korean eSports Association (KeSPA) has submitted a proposal to legalise eSports Toto, aiming to regulate eSports betting, curb illegal gambling, and secure funding for the growing domestic eSports industry.
Push to Legalise eSports in an Evolving Sports Betting Ecosystem
Sports Toto is a regulated form of lottery, similar to British football pools and tote betting games. The introduction of eSports toto would legalise tote-style betting on global eSports competitions. The petition comes at a time when the country’s eSports scene has reached a new peak. New funding at this juncture would ensure long-term growth and develop new revenue streams for the government.
KeSPA argued that despite the growing influence of eSports betting globally, it lacks a stable foothold in the South Korean market. The proposed integration into Sports Toto will provide the necessary funding and regulatory oversight to develop a sustainable betting market. This move could also attract interest from international sportsbook software providers, who might see regulated eSports betting in Korea as a high-potential growth opportunity.
This integration would give eSports a share of the National Sports Promotion Fund, a government initiative to support and promote traditional sports through youth programmes, infrastructural development, professional team nurturing, and competitive leagues.
KeSPA’s proposal suggests amending the Enforcement Decree of the National Sports Promotion Act to include eSports as a legal gambling tool. It further suggested rolling out selected games as part of a pilot project. The proposal also recommends that authorities establish dedicated guidelines addressing fairness, selection criteria, and gambling-related concerns.
Current State of Korea’s Sports Betting Markets
Sports betting is strictly regulated in South Korea. The only legal betting option for Korean players is the government-controlled Sports Toto, a betting pool comprising football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, and golf. Citizens aged 20 years and above can buy Sports Toto tickets from their local convenience stores. However, the maximum stake is capped at KRW 100,000 (£54.17).
Despite being quite popular and expected to reach a revenue of US$164.1 million in 2025, eSports betting in South Korea is yet to be regulated. Previous efforts to legalise eSports betting in 2024 were rejected by the government, citing an alarming trend in gambling addiction among the youth.
This, however, hasn’t stopped Korean punters from accessing offshore betting sites. Regulating the markets, on the other hand, could curb this tendency by giving players access to responsible gambling tools, such as self-exclusion, time limits, etc.
Despite the best efforts of people within the industry, legalising eSports in South Korea is going to be a long battle. The Democratic Party-led government is in the middle of a youth gambling epidemic. Any effort to legalise eSports toto will require a revision of the National Sports Promotion Act.
The government is also considering the social aspect of expanding sports betting offerings, considering Korea’s cultural emphasis on discipline. In foresight, the outcome of KeSPA’s proposal hangs in the balance. If approved, it would set a new precedent for regulated eSports betting in the Southeast Asian markets.