Gyeonggi Police Expand Youth Gambling Support Program

Authorities in South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province have been quietly addressing a growing youth gambling issue, with police confirming that 191 young people received assistance for gambling-related problems last year. Most of those helped were teenagers who voluntarily approached law enforcement seeking support. Assistance was coordinated by the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency in cooperation with the Gyeonggi Southern Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment Center and the Gyeonggi Youth Counseling and Welfare Center, combining counseling with structured rehabilitation services.

Go-Back Program Expanded for 2026

Building on last year’s outreach, police have expanded a voluntary self-reporting initiative known as Go-Back, which will run through late March. The program allows teenagers who feel they may be developing gambling dependence to seek help directly from police without fear of punishment.

A new element this year is free legal consultation, delivered through a partnership with the Gyeonggi Central Bar Association. The initiative includes trial treatment programs, expert-led counseling sessions and tailored legal guidance aimed specifically at minors. Organizers say the goal is to provide comprehensive, early-stage intervention before gambling behaviors escalate further.

Authorities Stress Shared Responsibility

Newly appointed provincial police chief Hwang Chang-seon described youth gambling as a broader social challenge rather than an individual failure. He emphasized that enforcement should prioritize protection and recovery over penalties, positioning the police as a point of support rather than intimidation.

Bar Association head Lee Jae-jin echoed this approach, pledging legal assistance to help affected teenagers resolve financial and legal complications tied to gambling. The partnership aims to reduce barriers that might otherwise prevent young people from seeking help.

Sharp Rise in Youth Gambling Offenses

Police data underscores the urgency of the issue. Gambling-related offenses involving minors increased 24-fold between 2021 and 2024. In 2024 alone, 72 children aged between 10 and 13 were identified for gambling-related violations.

Authorities also highlighted the growing presence of illegal lenders targeting minors, often charging interest rates as high as 30 percent, with additional penalties for late repayment. In some regions, officials reported that many affected youths were first exposed to online gambling platforms as early as age 12.

Claw Machine Venues Under Scrutiny

Unattended claw machine arcades have drawn increasing concern, with reports of teenagers spending significant sums in short periods, particularly late at night. Media and regulators have described these venues as potential gateways to gambling behavior, as they replicate wagering mechanics without formal supervision.

Against this backdrop, Gyeonggi’s voluntary intervention strategy seeks to counter the trend through early outreach, coordinated care and legal safeguards. Police officials say collaboration and prevention remain central to preventing gambling habits from becoming entrenched at a young age.