South Korea records increase in adolescent gambling arrests

• South Korea’s Democratic Party Rep. Kim Hyung-jung released a new report highlighting the number of youth gambling crime cases recorded since 2022
• A surge in adolescent gambling-related arrests was observed recently, with the peak hitting in 2024 when 559 such cases were recorded
• Rep. Hyung-junk urged the government to initiate a cross-agency response to fight youth gambling crimes

The number of adolescents arrested over gambling crimes in South Korea has recorded a significant uptick.

As illegal online casinos easily reach minors via social media ads, there is also a decrease in the age at which adolescents start gambling.

559 adolescent gambling arrests recorded in 2024

Earlier this week, Rep. Kim Hyun-jung from South Korea’s Democratic Party disclosed data from the National Police Agency, the local media outlet, The Chosun Daily reports.

Per this data, a sharp increase is observed in the number of cases involving adolescents aged 14-18 arrested for gambling crimes.

The new report sounds the alarm, considering that in 2022, 74 cases involving minors were recorded, while a year later, in 2023, the number of cases increased to 169.

This upward trend continued in 2024, when the number of adolescents aged 14-18 arrested for gambling crimes soared by a whopping 7.6 times, reaching 559 people.

Then, in 2025, the cases involving minors and adolescents decreased slightly to 337, but since the start of 2026, through August, there have been 323 such cases recorded.

Effective coordination, education and prevention can help combat adolescent gambling cases

Discussing the recent data, Rep. Hyun-jung said: "The truly frightening aspect of youth gambling is that it does not end with gambling itself."

The politician continued: "Gambling debts lead to secondary crimes such as illegal private financing, fraud and theft, and some individuals re-ignite the cycle by participating in distribution or member recruitment, luring other adolescents."

Rep. Hyun-jung described those activities as a "vicious cycle" and encouraged lawmakers to break it.

She highlighted the importance of the described issue, urging the development of a government-level system that addresses adolescent gambling crimes through education and prevention.

Further efforts, according to Rep. Hyun-jung should involve effective collaboration between governmental agencies.

"The entire process—from prevention and early detection to investigation and blocking, support for debt and illegal private financing damages, counseling, healing, and prevention of recurrence—must be coordinated," she explained.

Concerningly, 95.9% of the self-reported adolescents involved in gambling crimes admitted to using online casinos.

They played games such as baccarat and online slots, among others.

At the same time, nearly half, or 47.1% of the adolescents who gambled admitted to first being introduced to the activity at the age of 12, or even younger.

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