▲ Unauthorized private HTS screen used by the accused in the crime


Those in their 30s who led the operation of a 100 billion won gambling casino by betting on the fluctuation of futures index using an unauthorized private home trading system (HTS) program were sentenced to prison.



Chuncheon District Court's 3rd Criminal Division Chief Judge Su-young Sue sentenced A (31) and B (31), respectively, to two years and six months in prison for opening a gambling space and violating the Capital Market and Financial Investment Business Act.



He also ordered them to collect 1.9 billion won and 1.8 billion won, respectively.



The two men, who led the crime as operators, were put on trial on charges of operating a 62 billion won gambling house using private HTS for 2,000 members in July 2018.



A was accused of operating a 100 billion won gambling house with another accomplice, running 3 organizations, including 21.6 billion won and 15.4 billion won, respectively.



It is known that they operated a gambling house by using unlicensed private HTS that is linked with domestic and foreign futures trading data in real time, gathering people through a member recruitment book called 'experts' and betting on the fluctuations of the futures index.



Investing in futures through a normal exchange requires a deposit of tens of millions of won and goes through difficult procedures such as receiving a certificate of completion through regular training.



However, private HTS enticed members by stating that anyone can make a gift investment with a small amount just by signing up for a membership.



By creating HTS to be linked to actual futures, we added a 'leverage' function that allows higher dividends than normal investment to break down the vigilance and increase speculation, thereby encouraging speculative sentiment.



All of the members' losses due to non-normal futures trading went to the profits of these organizations.



They are known to have spent most of their profits on luxury foreign sports car leases, gambling, and entertainment expenses.



The court also ordered the accomplices to be punished by imprisonment or a fine, as well as additional collections ranging from 20 million won to 160 million won. 



(Photo = provided by Gangwon Police Agency, Yonhap News)