Country Turns To Gaming Legend To Counterplay Online Gambling Epidemic

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. It's hardly…

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. It's hardly limited to the United States, however, as illicit online gambling has wide appeal across much of Asia, despite local laws forbidding much of it.

South Korea in particular has seen an uptick in online gambling, particularly among youth, many of whom have gone to extreme lengths to obtain money to spend on gambling or cover their debts. To help combat the growing problem, the government has teamed up with one of the most famous figures in global esports, League of Legends prodigy Lee Sang-hyeok, better known by the handle "Faker."

As reported by the Seoul Economic Daily, Faker has been made an honorary police officer with the title of Senior Officer. The rationale behind this appointment is that "Lee is an esports player with high recognition at home and abroad and has consistently practiced the values of self-management and restraint throughout his long career, serving as a role model for young people." In this…

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