[서울=뉴스핌] Reporter Shin Soo-yong = # Person A (17) was addicted to gambling and baccarat. I started gambling at the recommendation of a friend and lost 20 million won, but I gambled every day. He raised funds for gambling by borrowing money from friends or through fraud and theft. Person A requested help from a gambling agency due to emotional problems such as throwing objects and swearing.
The number of youth visiting specialized institutions to treat gambling addiction is increasing, but related facilities and budgets remain stagnant.
◆ Youth gambling addiction is on the rise… budget is reduced
On the 18th, Democratic Party lawmaker Wi Sang-gon (Seogwipo-si, Jeju) analyzed data from government ministries such as the Korea Gambling Prevention and Treatment Center and the National Police Agency, and found that an increasing number of youth are visiting specialized organizations to solve gambling addiction problems.
The number of teenagers who received counseling for gambling problems by phone and online from the Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment Center this year was 510, but the number of teenagers who received counseling offline was 1,839.
In Korea, the Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment Center is the only public institution in charge of prevention and rehabilitation related to youth gambling addiction. The Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Healing Center operates various types of counseling, rehabilitation, and prevention programs including individual, group, and family.
Youth gambling is highly likely to lead to secondary crimes. Looking at the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office’s ‘Characteristics by major crime type in 2022’, the motive for the crime of juvenile robbers was ‘to prepare for entertainment and gambling expenses’, which was the highest at 26.8%.
According to the National Police Agency, there are 328 juvenile offenders (ages 14 to 19) on gambling charges who have been criminally booked (as of August this year). This is a 5.2-fold increase compared to 2021 (63 people) and is steadily increasing to 74 people in 2022 and 169 people in 2023.
Youth gambling crimes are on the rise, but government budgets have decreased. Next year’s budget for the Korea Gambling Prevention and Treatment Center’s gambling problem prevention and treatment project is 23.4 billion won. It decreased by about 1 billion won from this year’s 24.4 billion won (as of July this year). It was 22 billion won in 2022 and 21.7 billion won in 2023.
Representative Wie Gon said, “The government’s will to pursue policies is revealed in the budget,” and added, “Now is the time to increase the gambling addiction treatment (related budget), not to reduce it.”
◆ Teenagers “I want to quit gambling”…lack of solutions
Facilities are also insufficient compared to demand. The number of regional centers of the Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Healing Center, which provides comprehensive support for youth gambling addiction issues, including psychological counseling and financial support, is 14 across the country, a decrease of 1 compared to last year. There were 15 regional centers over four years. One regional center is scheduled to open within the year. Except for the two directly managed centers in Seoul and Gangwon, the rest are all consignment regional centers.
There are 38 professional counseling organizations (as of this year) operated by individuals in connection with institutions. The number is gradually increasing, but unlike regional centers that offer a variety of programs, they mainly provide individual counseling and are limited in the number of counseling sessions.
In Jeonnam and Sejong, there are no local centers or specialized counseling organizations related to youth gambling.
The Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment Institute explained, “The number of users is steadily increasing, and an increase in the budget is necessary to respond to the increased demand for gambling problem counseling services.”
He added, “The Ministry of Education needs to actively educate youth to prevent gambling problems, the Korea Communications Commission needs to quickly block illegal gambling sites, and the National Police Agency needs to work together to crack down on and investigate illegal gambling sites.” Each office of education places a lot of emphasis on cooperation and support with preventive care centers.
