North Korea Launches Mobile Lottery Service Featuring Football Betting
DailyNK has reported that North Korea’s “Samhung Electronic Wallet” app offers users access to mobile lottery tickets with payouts reaching tens of millions of North Korean won, along with the ability to place bets on sports events.
What Is the “Samhung Electronic Wallet”?
The North Korean app combines two primary forms of gambling:
- Number Lottery — similar to South Korea’s “Lotto,” where winnings depend on matching a sequence of digits.
- Football Betting — comparable to “Sports Toto,” allowing users to predict the outcomes of football matches.
The app regularly publishes lottery results, including winner details and prize amounts.
Example of a Winning Ticket
On March 1, 2023, during the 16th draw of the “Sports Event Lottery,” a user with ID 1323622531 won the grand prize of 46,697,268 won (approximately $5,640 at the time).
On March 17, 2023, another user who purchased 15 tickets also claimed the grand prize.
How the Lottery Works
Number Lottery Mechanics
Users select a seven-digit number. To hit the jackpot, the final five digits of the ticket must match the winning combination.
For example, if a ticket number is 2345678 and the winning number is 45678, the player wins the top prize.
There also appears to be a tiered prize system:
- 4 matching digits — Second prize
- 3 matching digits — Third prize
Football Lottery
Users can place bets on:
- Match winners
- Total scores and goals
- Q&A-based predictions
- Odds and standings
Bets are available on both domestic DPRK league matches and international tournaments, including the World Cup, English Premier League, La Liga, and more.
Payouts and Prize Collection
Winnings are credited to:
- A Jonsong Card debit card
- Or directly to the in-app electronic wallet
Details regarding the exact draw process or how much revenue the government retains remain unclear.
Comparison with South Korean Counterparts
| DPRK | South Korea |
|---|---|
| Sports Number Lottery | Lotto |
| Football Lottery | Sports Toto |
| App: Samhung Electronic Wallet | Various online services |
| Payouts: Jonsong Card or e-wallet | Bank accounts, credit/debit cards, mobile wallets |
Contradictions and Concerns
Despite the regime’s strict control over information, North Korea allows citizens to place bets on international sports events.
This creates a stark contrast between the country’s policy of isolating foreign influence and its use of that very content in gambling services.
It’s also worth noting that the revenue structure, winner selection process, and the state’s share in the profits remain undisclosed.
Conclusion
Mobile gambling through the “Samhung Electronic Wallet” is becoming increasingly diverse in North Korea. Citizens now have access to both number-based lotteries and bets on international sports events.
However, transparency around the system and the government’s involvement in prize distribution remains a critical unknown.