South Korean City Launches Crackdown, as Study Reveals Most Child Gamblers Start by Age 12

The South Korean city of Gumi, in North Gyeongsang Province, has promised to crack down on illegal gambling networks after learning that most children who’ve gambled started at age 12.

The city said that, according to a recent survey of 288 children and young adults in North Gyeongsang, 125 (43.4%) said they have experienced gambling, the media outlet Newsis reported.

The respondents’ average age when they first tried gambling was 12 years and 9 months. This, the city noted, means that many children in the province begin gambling during their elementary and early middle school years.

The survey revealed the most common gambling activities were online casino games (38.3%), offline lottery purchases (29%), and online mini-games (25.9%). Accessibility through online media was “identified as the primary factor driving gambling.”

The offline lottery purchases suggest that illegal sales are being made to minors. South Korean law stipulates that only citizens or residents aged 19 or older can purchase lottery tickets or participate in the sports pools, Sports Toto and Proto.

Children Start Gambling Young, City Vows to Act

Gumi City officials say they held a meeting with “relevant organizations.” The parties discussed prevention and early intervention strategies to stem the growth of youth gambling addiction.

The city said it must take decisive steps to counter the challenges of a “rapidly changing online environment.”

Police officials and local education chiefs were in attendance. Youth counseling and welfare staff also attended the meeting, along with representatives from the Gumi Addiction Management Integrated Support Center.

The parties agreed that the increased accessibility of gambling platforms on the internet was the primary factor driving the rise in youth gambling.

Society as a Whole Must Act, Says Health Chief

Lim Myeong-seop, Director of the Gumi Public Health Center, said: “Youth gambling is not simply a delinquency; it is a problem that requires the responsibility of society as a whole to address.”

Lim said the city would launch an integrated response system. The executive said that the system would help prevent and treat problem gambling among the city’s youth and “foster a healthy environment for growth.”

Earlier this month, the Sport Toto trustee announced it would pay whistleblowers up to $145,000 for illegal sportsbook tipoffs.