"Thought It Was a Game, But It's a Swamp"... Illegal Gambling Sites Targeting Youth

Youth Gambling Crimes Increase by 228%
Average Age of First Gambling Drops to 24.7 Years

Illegal gambling sites that lure teenagers with provocative photos and phrases are rampant. Experts emphasize that active government regulation is crucial, as teenagers, who have less judgment and self-control compared to adults, are more likely to develop 'gambling addiction.'

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the number of gambling crimes committed by teenagers (aged 14-18) caught last year was 23, a 228% increase compared to the previous year (7 cases). While violent crimes such as murder and robbery among juvenile crimes decreased by 22%, gambling and drug-related crimes increased significantly. The average age of first gambling has also been found to be lower. According to a survey by the Korea Center on Gambling Problems Prevention and Treatment, the average age of first gambling, which was 27.7 years in 2018, dropped to 24.7 years in 2022.

Recently emerging illegal gambling sites are rapidly spreading through social networking services (SNS), YouTube, and illegal streaming sites that teenagers mainly use. Illegal links leading to gambling sites are attached to posts and comments, and clicking on them directly connects users to gambling sites. In fact, when accessing an illegal TV and movie streaming site, it was easy to see banners on the side of the site with provocative images and phrases such as 'Safe' and 'Highest profit rate.' The membership registration only required an ID, nickname, and withdrawal password, without any minimum adult verification process.

Illegal gambling site advertisement Photo by Lee Seohee

Hadongjin, head of the Youth Protection Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said, "Teenagers mainly access illegal gambling sites through overseas sites like Google and YouTube, and there are no restrictions even for membership registration," adding, "Students openly know which routes are easier to access gambling sites."

The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) is strengthening monitoring and review of illegal gambling sites, but most illegal sites have servers overseas, making corrective actions difficult. The KCSC's corrective measures are mainly 'deletion' and 'access blocking,' but unlike domestic sites that can be directly deleted, overseas sites fall under the principle of territoriality (limiting the scope of law application to the country's territory), so the KCSC has no authority to enforce deletion.

Experts stress the need for strict control, as teenagers with lower self-control and judgment are more likely to develop gambling addiction. Professor Lee Byung-chul of Hallym University Department of Psychiatry explained, "Illegal gambling is unlikely to be a problem for normally functioning adults. However, teenagers tend to imitate adults or seek special experiences, and they lack a clear concept of legal responsibility, making them easily tempted," adding, "It is necessary to thoroughly educate about the dangers of illegal gambling and strictly regulate illegal sites."