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More than 1,700 youths sought police assistance over a three-month period through a voluntary reporting initiative targeting youth cyber gambling. Their average age was 15.5 years, and their average gambling amount reached 3 million won.

According to the National Police Agency on the 6th, a total of 1,777 individuals reported during the interagency "Voluntary Reporting Period for Youth Cyber Gambling," operated from May 18 to August 31.

Reports filed directly by the youth themselves accounted for the vast majority at 1,501 individuals (84.5%), while reports filed by guardians stood at 276 (15.5%). By school level, high school students accounted for the largest share with 963 individuals, followed by 813 middle school students and one elementary school student.

The average gambling period among reporting youth was 10 months. Those engaging in casino-style games such as slots and baccarat accounted for 95.9% of the total. Regarding the reason for reporting, education and public awareness campaigns by school police officers (SPOs) accounted for the largest share at 1,183 cases (66.6%).

Cases were also identified where gambling led to secondary offenses such as assault or theft. In Ulsan, an SPO counseling session revealed that a teenager had gambled 200 million won over two years. The investigation revealed that this youth, after falling into gambling, assaulted his mother while demanding allowance money.

In Seoul, authorities uncovered a 14-member "gambling ring" of middle and high school students who committed fraud and theft after running out of funds while gambling together. Police dismantled the circle and referred them to specialized institutions for oversight.

For youths who voluntarily reported, police focused on treatment and recurrence prevention rather than punishment. Among the 1,504 individuals who completed initial counseling, 1,430 (95.1%) were referred to specialized agencies. Therapeutic effects also surfaced. An analysis of 160 youths who completed the program showed that their average score on the Problem Gambling Severity Index dropped from 4.81 points before treatment to 2.22 points afterward.

Cases were also identified where youths turned to illegal private moneylenders to secure gambling funds. Police referred five victimized youths to the Credit Counseling & Recovery Service and are investigating instances of exorbitant interest rates and collection threats. Authorities also requested the shutdown and removal of 464 illegal gambling websites uncovered during counseling sessions.

The National Police Agency plans to analyze the effectiveness of the voluntary reporting system through specialized research institutions through October. After gathering opinions from youths, parents, and field police officers, the agency will determine whether to continue operating the system, as well as the timing and methods.

An official from the National Police Agency said, "Treatment for gambling addiction is much more effective the earlier it begins," emphasizing that "it is essential to identify and treat gambling youths early to prevent it from escalating into secondary offenses."

                                                                                                          Seol So-young