South Korea Reports Rising Youth Gambling Concerns

A total of 5,838 people aged 19 or younger received assistance related to gambling during the year in question. The figures were compiled from information submitted by the National Gambling Control Commission to Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Oh-kyeong.

Online illegal gambling accounted for 57.7% of the reported cases, highlighting the continued prevalence of internet-based gambling among teenagers seeking gambling-related support.

The figures reflect the number of young people who have already been identified and required assistance. However, the data also points to a gap between teenagers identified as being at risk and those who ultimately receive specialist support.

Referral Gap Among At-Risk Teenagers

Statistics from 2025 identified 24,474 teenagers as being at high risk of developing gambling-related problems.

Of that group, just 1,235 were referred to the Korea Problem Gambling Agency for prevention, counselling, and rehabilitation services.

The figures indicate that a significant number of teenagers identified as high-risk did not receive referrals to specialist services.

The Korea Problem Gambling Agency provides gambling prevention, counselling and rehabilitation support. The referral figures show a clear difference between the number of teenagers identified as vulnerable and those directed to the agency for assistance.

Lim said greater prevention efforts are needed to ensure young people can receive counselling and treatment at an appropriate stage.

Addressing youth gambling therefore involves more than identifying gambling-related problems. It also requires young people identified by schools, families or other systems to be connected with the support services available to them.

Survey Highlights Continued Gambling Exposure

Separate government research has also pointed to continued gambling exposure among young people in South Korea.

The Korea Problem Gambling Agency’s 2025 youth gambling survey found that 4% of the 13,481 students questioned across 633 schools had gambled at least once.

The research included students ranging from grades 4 to 6 in elementary school through high school, covering multiple age groups within the country’s education system.

Among students who reported gambling, 19.4% continued to gamble during the six-month period examined by the survey. This compared with 19.1% in 2024.

The agency estimated that around 157,000 young people nationwide had experience with gambling, including approximately 30,000 who had continued gambling during the previous six months.

The survey indicates that gambling exposure occurs across different levels of the school system. It also shows that some students with previous gambling experience continue the activity over an extended period.

Requirement for Youth Prevention Education

South Korea has also introduced expanded gambling prevention measures for young people.

An amendment to the National Gambling Control Commission Act now requires elementary, middle and high school students to receive gambling prevention education at least twice each year.

The measure establishes regular prevention education throughout the school system, covering students from elementary school through high school and setting a minimum frequency of two sessions annually.

The new requirement follows an increase in the number of teenagers receiving gambling-related treatment or counselling. It also comes after survey results showed that some students had gambling experience and continued to gamble during the six-month period examined.

The prevention education requirement forms part of efforts to address gambling exposure among young people before more serious gambling-related problems develop.