Arcade Offers Candy as Game Prize... "Encouraging Gambling" Fine of 1 Million Won

[Financial News] An arcade operator who offered chocolate and candy as prizes for youth game machines was sentenced to a fine in the first trial for charges of encouraging gambling.
According to the legal community on the 18th, the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 7 (Presiding Judge Ma Seong-yeong) sentenced arcade operator A (37) and corporation B to a fine of 1 million won each for violating the Game Industry Promotion Act.
A, the CEO of B, was brought to trial for installing three youth game machines in an arcade operated in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and providing chocolate and candy, which are perishable goods, as prizes. The current Game Industry Act prohibits providing perishable goods as prizes for game machines used by youths.
During the trial, A argued, "Snacks or candy do not induce gambling, and prohibiting them solely because they have an expiration date violates the principle of excessive prohibition." He also raised issues with the investigation, stating, "The police searched the arcade without a warrant and obtained a statement without informing the right to remain silent."
However, the court did not accept this. The court stated, "Providing food items such as chocolate as prizes may harm the health of youths and has the potential to induce gambling, so it is justified to restrict prize offerings."
Furthermore, regarding whether prizes in game machines can induce gambling, the court added, "It should be judged based on the purpose of the law to protect youths, not merely on the nature of the items."
Regarding the investigation procedure, the court ruled, "The arcade is a place where an unspecified number of people enter, so the police's act of entering and filming without a warrant in a general manner is not illegal," and "Considering that the statement was not made under the status of a suspect, there is no procedural flaw in the investigation." 425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter