South Korea sees 40.9% rise in teen gambling cases
Some 5,838 teenagers received gambling-related treatment or counselling in South Korea in 2025.
South Korea.- There has been a 40.9 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of teenagers receiving treatment or counselling for gambling problems South Korea. A total of 5,838 people aged 19 and under received gambling-related treatment or counselling in 2025, according to data from the National Gambling Control Commission submitted to Democratic Party lawmaker Lim Oh-kyeong. Illegal online gambling accounted for 57.7 per cent of the cases.
The figures point to a gap between the identification of teenagers at risk and connection with specialist support. Of the 24,474 teenagers classified as being at high risk in 2025, only 1,235 were referred to the Korea Problem Gambling Agency for prevention, counselling and rehabilitation services.
Separate government research has pointed to continued exposure to gambling among young people. The Korea Problem Gambling Agency’s 2025 youth gambling survey found that 4 per cent of 13,481 students surveyed across 633 schools had gambled at least once. The survey covered pupils from grades four to six in elementary school through high school.
Among those who had gambled, 19.4 per cent had continued gambling during the six months covered by the survey, slightly higher than the 19.1 per cent recorded in 2024. The agency estimated that around 157,000 young people nationwide had gambling experience, including about 30,000 who had continued gambling during the previous six months.
South Korea has expanded its prevention measures. A new amendment to the National Gambling Control Commission Act requires gambling prevention education for elementary, middle and high school students at least twice a year. However, Lim said stronger prevention efforts are needed to ensure teenagers identified as being at risk receive timely counselling and treatment.
