Lottery tickets were traditionally illegal for North Korean citizens, but the government quietly introduced mobile lottery services through the state-developed Samhung Electronic Wallet app in 2023. North Korea has quietly added a mobile lottery and sports betting to its official Samhung Electronic Wallet app, marking a primary change in North Korean policies as gambling has always been banned for its citizens (2). The platform includes two key offerings: Sports Number Lottery and Sports Event Lottery, both resembling regulated gambling systems found in neighboring South Korea.
The Sports Number Lottery allows users to win jackpots by matching a sequence of digits on their ticket with the winning combination (2). Top prizes are awarded when the last five digits of a seven-digit ticket match the drawn number, with secondary prizes available for four or three-digit matches. Winnings are compensated either through North Korea's state-backed Jonsong debit card system or directly into the Samhung electronic wallet, though key details such as the lottery's draw procedures, regulatory oversight, and revenue distribution remain opaque.
"A notification dated 1 March 2023 announced one of the app's most enormous winnings to date. A user with a single ticket won a top prize of 46.7 million North Korean won — approximately USD $5,640 at the market exchange rate prevailing in Pyongyang at the time."
While gambling is largely illegal for North Korean natives, the country's two casinos provide foreign visitors with an unusual gaming experience at the Yanggakdo Hotel Casino in Pyongyang and Imperial Hotel Casino in Rason (1). Previously, gambling was only for foreigners at these locations using foreign currencies like US dollars, euros, and Chinese yuan, heavily monitored and off-limits to locals. The introduction of lottery systems embedded into mobile financial apps accessible by North Koreans represents a significant shift in the regime's stance on gambling and digital consumer services.
Source:
https://www.igamingtoday.com/gambling-regulation-in-north-korea/
https://sigma.world/news/north-korea-mobile-lottery-sports-betting-service/
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
