Korea steps up support for teens with gambling addictions

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family plans to improve how teenagers with gambling addictions are identified and connected with treatment, it said Tuesday.

“Effective responses to teenage gambling problems require close cooperation between youth support organizations and specialized gambling treatment agencies, drawing on their respective expertise,” Minister Won Min-kyong said during a visit to the Korea Problem Gambling Agency in Seoul.

Teenagers accounted for 24.3 percent of users of the agency’s gambling treatment services in 2025, up from 6.2 percent in 2021.

The ministry is seeking to strengthen support from early detection through treatment and rehabilitation, amid concerns about teenage gambling, particularly online gambling.

A key focus of the discussions was improving training for youth counselors and frontline workers so they can recognize signs of gambling addiction and refer teenagers to appropriate services.

The Youth Gambling Gatekeeper Program currently offers five training sessions a year for a total of 240 participants. The agency assigns two specialized instructors to each session.

The ministry also plans to simplify referral procedures between youth counseling centers and specialized treatment agencies, allowing teenagers who need professional help to receive timely support.

The two sides also discussed cooperation on a voluntary reporting program for teenagers involved in online gambling.

The ministry currently surveys first-year middle and high school students annually to identify those at risk of becoming addicted.

Students identified as needing support can receive initial counseling through youth counseling and welfare centers before being referred to specialized agencies.

During the visit, Won also inspected the agency’s counseling hotline, rehabilitation facilities and other spaces dedicated to gambling prevention and treatment.

“We will continue strengthening prevention, protection and recovery support so that young people can grow up safely, free from harmful environments such as gambling,” Won said.