Adolescent gambling addiction triples in Korea over 3 years, medical costs quadruple

Over the past three years, the number of adolescent gambling addiction patients has surged dramatically, with medical expenses increasing nearly fourfold.

According to data submitted to Rep. Seo Young-seok of the Democratic Party of Korea by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of adolescent gambling addiction patients increased approximately 3.3 times, from 64 in 2022 to 210 in 2024. During the same period, medical expenses quadrupled, rising from 110 million won ($79,390) to 430 million won.

Youth gambling crimes have also emerged as a social problem. Analysis of National Police Agency data by Rep. Seo's office revealed that juveniles arrested for gambling crimes surged over eightfold, from 76 in 2022 to 631 in 2024. Among these, crimes committed by juveniles aged 10 to 13 (juveniles subject to juvenile law) skyrocketed over 30-fold, from two to 72 during the period.

Notably, arrests related to online casinos increased from two in 2022 to 93 in 2024, showing the sharpest rise. Illegal sports betting also rose from 36 to 109 cases, revealing a widespread expansion.

The number of youth gambling counseling cases and participants in prevention education is also rising. According to data from the Korea Problem Gambling Agency, youth gambling counseling cases increased approximately threefold, from 1,460 in 2022 to 4,144 in 2024, with 3,273 already receiving counseling through August this year. The number of participants in prevention education expanded to 2.03 million last year.

However, counseling personnel and on-site response capabilities remain insufficient. Rep. Seo pointed out that the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Integrated Support Center for Addiction Management operates primarily focused on alcohol, failing to adequately address the spreading problem of youth gambling addiction in local communities.

“Youth illegal gambling is a social addiction problem that cannot be solved by crackdowns alone,” Seo said. "This goes beyond harming individuals' studies and health, leading to family breakdown, crime recurrence, and skyrocketing social costs, causing enormous losses to society as a whole. Expanding specialized treatment facilities for youth, bolstering counseling staff, and expanding prevention education in schools and communities are urgently needed."