Teen gambling addiction causes concern in South Korea
A South Korean lawmaker has warned that the number of teenagers in South Korea getting treatment for gambling addiction has tripled in two years.
According to data released this week by Rep. Seo Young-seok of the Democratic Party, 210 teenagers were treated for gambling addiction in 2024, up from 64 in 2022. The trend has continued this year, with 156 cases recorded between January and July, based on figures from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.
Statistics from the police also show an increase in gambling-related offenses involving minors.
The number of teens caught for gambling crimes jumped from 76 in 2022 to 631 in 2024. Cases involving juveniles under 14, who are exempt from criminal punishment, rose nearly 30-fold in the same period, from two to 72.
According to the data, online casinos and illegal sports betting account for much of the surge. Online casino cases climbed from two in 2022 to 93 in 2024, while sports betting cases grew from 36 to 109.
The report also indicates that children are being exposed at younger ages, often starting with sports gambling sites found online.
Young-seok called for stronger prevention and treatment programs, warning that teen gambling addiction disrupts education, damages families, and contributes to crime, and that it could not be solved by legal or police crackdowns alone.
South Korea isn’t the only country advocating for gambling addiction awareness. New Zealand has recently begun a responsible gaming campaign, as it discovered two of its populations, Māori and Pasifika, were disproportionately at risk of gambling issues.
Dig deeper
2025/09/03: South Korea succeeds in largest ever repatriation of criminals linked to online gambling in the Philippines
2025/06/20: Police dismantle igaming network in South Korea
2025/05/28: South Korean man charged over North Korean gambling operation
2025/08/05: Senate committee approves military gambling addiction research
Abi Bray brings strong researching skills to the forefront of all of her writing, whether it’s the newest slots, industry trends or the ever changing legislation across the U.S, Asia and Australia, she maintains a keen eye for detail and a passion for reporting.
Verticals:
Sectors:
Topics:
