Adolescent gambling addiction cases in South Korea have tripled in three years, outpacing available support resources.
Adolescent gambling addiction has become an increasing concern worldwide as gambling becomes more accessible, and South Korea is no exception. In the country, cases have tripled over the past three years, prompting serious concern from the medical community.
According to data released by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-seok, the number of adolescent patients receiving treatment for gambling addiction rose from 64 in 2022 to 210 in 2024. During the same period, the medical expenses increased from KRW 110m ($79,400) to KRW 430m ($312,056).
There started to be a bigger demand for counselling as well. The Korea Problem Gambling Agency reported that youth gambling counselling cases grew from 1,460 in 2022 to 4,144 in 2024, with more than 3,200 already recorded in the first eight months of 2025.
But the concerns are not only related to the healthcare field. National Police Agency figures show that juvenile gambling crimes grew more than eightfold, from 76 in 2022 to 631 in 2024. The arrests involving children between 10 and 13 increased from two to 72, while cases linked to online casinos rose from two to 93. The illegal sports betting incidents also climbed from 36 to 109.
Limited resources to help everyone
Due to high demand, the country has been struggling to find resources to support every adolescent in need. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Integrated Support Center for Addiction Management has faced significant criticism for focusing primarily on alcohol while not adequately addressing the harms associated with gambling.
Seo Young-seok argued that adolescent gambling should be treated as a social addiction issue requiring expanded treatment facilities, additional counselling staff, and strengthened prevention programs in schools and communities, which is not happening in South Korea right now, at least not enough to address the real dimensions of this problem.
He stated, “Youth illegal gambling is a social addiction issue that cannot be addressed by crackdowns alone. It not only affects individuals’ studies and health but also contributes to family breakdown, recurring crime, and rising social costs.”
From this perspective, expanding specialized treatment facilities for young people is crucial. Strengthening counseling staff and enhancing prevention education in schools and communities are urgently needed.
That's all for now. Stick around for more betting news, guides, and updates on esports.gg.
