Image Credits - iGaming Business
The National Police Agency reported on Sunday that 4,715 individuals under the age of 19 were discovered participating in online gambling during a special crackdown conducted between September 2023 and October 2024. Although no arrests were made, the scale of the issue has raised serious concerns among authorities and the public.
This number represents 47.2 per cent of all participants identified in the crackdown. Initially, law enforcement focused on dismantling illegal gambling operations and curbing the activities of habitual or high-stakes gamblers. However, the campaign’s scope widened as youth involvement emerged as a significant challenge, with underage gambling cases increasing by an unprecedented 2,784 per cent compared to the previous year’s 162 cases.
Seventeen-year-olds accounted for the largest group with 1,763 participants, followed by 16-year-olds (1,241) and 15-year-olds (560). Online casino games were found to be the most popular form of gambling, comprising 82.6 per cent of cases. In total, 3.7 billion won (approximately $2.64 million) was wagered, with an average bet per participant estimated at 780,000 won.
In response, authorities referred 1,733 of the minors identified to professional counselling services for support. The police agency has also announced that the special crackdown will continue for another year, underscoring the ongoing need to curb illegal gambling and protect at-risk youth.