- Staff who handled top-ups and cash exchange at the counter may be booked with the owner for violating the Game Industry Promotion Act or opening a gambling place.
- Staff who only received wages are often treated as accessories, whose penalty is reduced from the principal's (Criminal Act Art. 32(2)).
- Whether you knew it was illegal and what tasks you performed decide the penalty.
Applicable laws and penalties
Game Industry Promotion Act Art. 44(1)Criminal Act Art. 247Criminal Act Art. 32Key issues
Knowledge of illegality
The first question is whether you knew the games were unrated or that cash exchange took place. The longer you worked, the harder it is to claim you did not know.
Scope of tasks
Whether you only cleaned and served drinks, or handled point top-ups and cash-outs yourself, separates co-principals from accessories.
Pay structure
Whether you received a fixed hourly wage or incentives tied to sales shows your level of involvement.
Consistency of statements
If the owner's and staff's statements conflict, the staff member's account is often recorded unfavorably. Organize the facts before the first interview.
What to do, step by step
- At the raidYou may be arrested on the spot or asked to come voluntarily. You can refuse a voluntary visit and you have the right to remain silent.
- Secure work recordsKeep wage transfers, dates of work and messages about how you were hired.
- Prepare for questioningOrganize with your lawyer what tasks you did and what you knew.
- Disposition stageIf your involvement was low, you can submit an opinion seeking a suspension of indictment or a summary fine.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone who worked only a few weeks be punished?
Even a short period can lead to charges if you handled top-ups or cash-outs. But properly showing your short period and low involvement may lead to a suspension of indictment or a lighter outcome. Prepare with a lawyer so you are not led by the owner's version at the first interview.
The owner told me the shop was legal.
Whether you knew is judged from what you were told when hired and what you saw at work. Messages showing you trusted the owner are important evidence. We will help you sort out which records help you.
Can my statement differ from the owner's?
You should tell the truth, and coordinating stories can look like destroying evidence. But statements shaped in the owner's favor often work against staff. To protect your position, it is safer to have a lawyer attend questioning.
The same role can lead to different charges and outcomes depending on the facts. For your specific case, speak with a lawyer.