According to a study by The Korea Times, South Korea is seeing a significant rise in the addiction to internet gambling among young people as a result of unregulated rogue operators focusing on this market.
Despite the absence of regulated internet gambling choices in South Korea, the number of young people seeking help for gambling addiction has significantly increased. The Democratic Party of Korea’s Rep. Jun Hye-sook, a local lawmaker, has brought attention to this subject by giving statistics that show a rising issue.
A Soaring Increase in Addiction Cases
Rep. Jun said that the National Health Insurance Service backs the assertions of an increasing number of compulsive gamblers in need of assistance. Alarming numbers reveal a 91.2% increase in gambling addiction over a four-year period, from 1,218 instances in 2018 to 2,329 cases in 2022.
The pattern persisted in 2022, with younger people suffering the most. According to the statistics, people in their 30s asked for aid 866 times compared to 791 times for those in their 20s. This shows that persons in their 20s are more likely to develop a gambling addiction, which is a serious problem in South Korea.
The situation in South Korea is similar to international initiatives to safeguard consumers, especially those observed in nations like the Netherlands. Due to their propensity for excessive gambling when exposed to promotional materials, the Netherlands has taken steps to prevent operators from focusing on or advertising to those under a specified age.
Despite the fact that internet gambling is forbidden in South Korea, unlicensed websites have been actively courting and taking advantage of impressionable consumers, particularly young people.
Rep. Jun has said that the government need to play a more significant role in warning kids about the dangers of gambling. Although it could need financial commitment, it’s a start in the right direction toward solving the problem and safeguarding the younger generation.
There are other nations that deal with unlawful internet gambling besides South Korea. By compiling lists of blacklisted brands, nations like Australia have taken aggressive efforts to curb unlawful internet gambling. Australia’s regulators have effectively shut down hundreds of illicit brands and placed restrictions on legitimate ones that were operating in the shadows. This action supports worldwide initiatives to safeguard consumers from the risks associated with uncontrolled internet gaming.
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