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A total of 5,838 individuals who were 19 years old or younger received gambling-related assistance in the year under consideration. The data was collected through information provided by the National Gambling Control Commission to Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Oh-kyeong.
Illegal gambling through online platforms was responsible for 57.7% of the reported cases. The data is indicative of the fact that gambling over the internet continues to be a prevalent issue in the lives of teenagers receiving gambling assistance.
The growth in the number of cases is indicative of the number of teens who have already been discovered and required assistance. However, there exists a gap between the two as suggested by the current data.
Referral Gap for Teenagers at Risk
According to the statistics in 2025, 24,474 teenagers were found as high-risk individuals prone to experiencing gambling-associated issues.
Out of all, only 1,235 teenagers were recommended to the Korea Problem Gambling Agency for prevention, counselling, and rehabilitation.
From the given figures, it is clear that many high-risk teenagers have not received any referrals to the specialists.
The Korea Problem Gambling Agency offers services related to gambling prevention, counselling, and rehabilitation. In terms of referral statistics, the difference can be observed between the number of teenagers found as high-risk and the number of referrals to the mentioned agency.
According to Lim, there is a need for more efforts towards prevention so that the youth can get counseling and treatment in time.
The issue is not only about recognizing gambling-related concerns among young people. It also involves ensuring that those identified by schools, families, or other systems are able to access the available support services.
Survey Shows Ongoing Exposure
Separate government research also showed continued exposure to gambling among young people in South Korea.
The Korea Problem Gambling Agency’s 2025 youth gambling survey found that 4% of 13,481 students surveyed across 633 schools had gambled at least once.
The survey covered students from grades 4 to 6 in elementary school through high school. This included a wide range of age groups within the country’s school system.
Among students who had gambled, 19.4% continued gambling during the 6-month period covered by the survey. This was slightly higher than the 19.1% recorded in 2024.
The agency estimated that about 157,000 young people nationwide had gambling experience. This group included approximately 30,000 continued gambling during the previous 6 months.
The survey figures show that gambling exposure is present among students at different school levels. They also indicate that some young people who have gambling experience continue the activity over time.
Prevention Education Requirement
South Korea has expanded its prevention measures for youth gambling.
A new amendment to the National Gambling Control Commission Act requires gambling prevention education for elementary, middle, and high school students at least 2 times a year.
The requirement is intended to provide regular prevention education across the school system. It covers students from elementary school through high school and establishes a minimum number of gambling-prevention sessions each year.
The new measure comes as the number of teenagers receiving gambling-related treatment or counselling has increased. It also follows survey findings showing that some students have experienced gambling and continued to participate over a 6-month period.
The prevention education requirement is part of the country’s effort to address gambling exposure before young people develop more serious problems.
Source: Focus Gaming News
