The Korean gaming industry has received yet another big blow with the uncovering of this gaming fraud:

The Korea e-Sports Association and a pro gamers’ group reportedly found circumstantial evidence that more than 10 active and retired pro gamers pocketed bribes by fabricating game results on illegal betting Web sites. Prosecutors were asked to launch an investigation last month.Betting valuable items on Starcraft games is illegal. People can legally gamble on sports only through Sports Toto lotteries, which are issued under the Public Sport Promotion Act, or bet on horseracing and bicycle and canoe racing.Fabricating wins and losses of online games are conducted through illegal Web sites called “playgrounds.” These sites are operated by overseas-based servers and are known to a small number of exclusive members through online game cafes and other routes. The sites operate on an ad hoc basis by informing Web addresses to members via mobile phones after switching to other servers if a criminal probe is suspected. This makes it difficult to trace their operators. The stakes reportedly range from dozens to thousands of dollars.The scandal allegedly started when ex-pro gamers who served as illegal brokers promised money to junior pro gamers. The brokers approached pro gamers with good records in the pro or individual leagues, offering them bribes for intentionally losing games. The brokers are also suspected of exploiting the practice of betters generally making their bets on pro gamers with stellar records by betting on rivals with inferior performance. They also reportedly bribed promising novices on pro gaming teams, illegally acquired video files of training by famous players, and figured out the latter’s strategies in advance.  [Donga Ilbo]

You can read more at the link, but I really don’t feel sorry for people who lost money on this fraud because you have to be an idiot to bet on video games in the first place.