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2.1% of Students in South Korea Have Gambling Experience

On January 28, the Seoul Police released the results of their annual survey on youth gambling experience, conducted from October 27 to December 9, 2025, among 34,779 students aged 10–18, report News1. For comparison, the report also includes data from 2024 (10,685 students). iGN highlights the following findings:

General Statistics

  • 2.1% — percentage of students with personal gambling experience (1.5% in 2024)
  • 20.9% — percentage of students exposed to gambling in their environment (10.1% in 2024)
  • 69.9% — share of boys among those with experience (30.1% girls)
  • 5th grade (14.1%) — most common age for first gambling experience (1st year of middle school in 2024)

Types of Gambling

  • 25.3% — esports betting and loot boxes
  • 22.1% — Instant games and Live games
  • 21.2% — online casino (baccarat)
  • 7.6% — sports betting

Platforms and Devices

  • 76.2% — play online
  • 64.6% — via smartphone
  • 11.3% — via desktop
  • 7.1% — in land-based venues (poker clubs, etc.)

Engagement Channels

  • 40.3% — recommended by friends and peers
  • 21.2% — recommended by acquaintances
  • 18.6% — social media and stream advertising

Sources of Gambling Funds

  • 76.2% — pocket money or savings
  • 8.7% — parents’ or relatives’ accounts or cards
  • 4.6% — mobile payments
  • 3.8% — friends’ accounts or transfers via intermediaries
  • 3.6% — income from part-time jobs
  • 2.8% — extortion, fraud, or bullying

Consequences

  • 13.8% — incurred debt or borrowed money from others
  • 13.1% — depression and anxiety
  • 11.1% — drop in academic performance
  • 10.4% — family conflicts

Debt Repayment Methods

  • 15.1% — seeking help from family
  • 13.9% — borrowing from friends or acquaintances
  • 7.5% — trying to win back losses
  • 2.4% — selling personal belongings
  • 2.0% — fraud via resale of goods
  • 1.4% — illegal lenders
  • 1.3% — extortion and violence

Participant Behavior

The majority of students with gambling experience reported that they are currently not playing (51.4%) or intend to stop (39%).

Police Measures

Seoul Police Chief Park Jong-bo called youth gambling a “serious social problem that can destroy individuals and families.” The police have launched an intensified prevention period until April, including blocking iGaming websites and conducting educational programs in schools. Online gambling remains completely banned in South Korea.