South Korea voluntary reporting programme records 806 youth gambling cases in two months
Of the total cases, 629 came directly from teenagers, while 177 were filed by parents or guardians.
South Korea.- The Youth Cyber Gambling Voluntary Reporting Program in South Korea has recorded a 74 per cent month-on-month increase in cases in its second month. Some 512 reports were submitted in the programme’s second month, compared with 294 in the first.
According to the latest data released by the National Police Agency, 629 of the total of 806 reports so far came directly from teenagers, while 177 were filed by parents or guardians. The figures indicate that boys accounted for 95 per cent of reports. High school students represented 56 per cent of cases, and middle school students the remaining 44 per cent.
Teenagers who self-reported said they had gambled for an average of 10 months, with average deposits of KRW3m (US$2,029). The highest reported gambling spend was KRW70m (US$47,349).
The government plans to operate the programme until August 31. Reports can be submitted by people under 19 and their parents or guardians through the 117 school violence reporting and counselling service.
After a report is submitted, school police officers and gambling counsellors assess each case and, where appropriate, refer participants to addiction treatment, psychiatric care or debt support services. Police said rehabilitation remains the programme’s primary focus, with individual circumstances considered before any legal action is taken.
