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A growing number of South Korean elementary, middle, and high school children say they have experienced gambling, with many admitting they are addicted to placing bets.

The revelation comes as cities throughout the nation launch initiatives aimed at eliminating youth gambling.

Per a report from the South Korean news platform OhMyNews, the Korea Institute for Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment has conducted a nationwide survey on youth gambling.

The institute spoke to 13,368 students at 605 schools nationwide, and 4.3% of interviewees admitted to having gambled at least once.

The survey’s authors also found that 19.1% of the children they spoke to said they were now gambling habitually (for a period of six months or more).

Almost half of these habitual gamblers said they used someone else’s name when placing bets. And a quarter said they had also placed bets using proxy betting services.

These services include live streamers who gamble using virtual currency on online slot machines, placing bets on behalf of their viewers.

The survey’s authors noted that proxy betting rates are particularly high among middle schoolers.

South Korean Gambling Concerns Grow

The institute suggested that youth gambling addiction rates have risen in recent years, with an estimated 8.5% of minors admitted to having gambling addictions in 2019.

In 2022, that rose to 10.2%, with experts adding that this number likely rose above the 15% mark for the first time in 2022.

Government agencies, led by the Ministry of Education, have responded by declaring 12 – 18 May National Youth Gambling Protection Week.

Central and local government organs around the country have marked the week with various events.

These include workshops for children, with experts, former gambling addicts, and parents invited to speak.

They are also holding various musical performance events to raise awareness. Schools, meanwhile, will host lectures from school police officers and academics who specialize in paediatrics.

Younger Citizens Increasingly Drawn to Betting Sites

Yonhap reported that the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency has launched an annual anti-youth gambling drive.

The agency has partnered with Busan Metropolitan City, the city’s Office of Education, and the Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment Center.

The parties will launch regular campaigns to raise awareness and encourage various social groups to protect young people from gambling addiction.

Elsewhere, North Gyeongsang Province’s Education Department has launched a new training program to help school teachers join the fight against youth gambling addiction.

News1 added that the department has begun training 50 elementary and middle school teachers in the province.

The training sessions will create a province-wide gambling prevention “professionals” network.

Teachers will attend eight weeks of gambling prevention sessions. North Gyeongsang intends to train 50 new “professionals” every year.

Im Jong-sik, the North Gyeongsang Superintendent of Education, said: “Gambling is not just a problem for schools. It has become an issue for society as a whole. We will ensure that students grow up in a safe environment. We will provide continuous preventive education and a network of support systems.”

Earlier this month, the National Police Agency began an intensive crackdown on illegal gambling activities at hold ‘em pubs: venues that offer gambling-like experiences.