[Column by Lee Jin-sik] Signs of youth gambling can also be revealed at home

*This content was translated by AI.

We now know.

How quickly and deeply youth gambling is spreading. The average age of first experience is 12.5 years, the socioeconomic cost exceeds 2 trillion won, and the digital environment structure underlying it all.

The only question remaining is this: whether at home or at school, what should be done if signs of a child's gambling are noticed? Knowing the problem and responding to it are entirely different dimensions. Only when knowledge leads to action can we truly protect the child.

The problem is not far away, yet it rarely comes to light. Children are accustomed to hiding, and adults are busy. In between, signals appear small but repeatedly. Allowance frequently disappears without reason, or the child begs for more; they cannot let go of their smartphones and try to hide the screen. Suddenly, they acquire expensive items, or conversely, items around the house go missing. They stay up all night, sleep patterns become disrupted, grades plummet, and they begin to avoid school.

They become overly sensitive to talk of money or smartphones and display unexplained anxiety and restlessness. They drift away from activities they once enjoyed, and relationships change rapidly. Becoming isolated or associating with unfamiliar groups are also important signals. If two or more of these changes overlap and recur, it may not be merely the turbulence of adolescence. It is time to intervene before it is too late.

However, the approach matters even more. The most difficult first step for the child is admitting the problem. Self-justification such as "it's just a game" deepens the issue. The moment they attempt to recover lost money by joining larger games, they have already crossed the boundary of danger. The more they try to solve it alone, the deeper they fall. Confiding in someone is the beginning of recovery. If a direct visit is difficult, a single phone call is enough. The 1336 Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Recovery Center is open 24 hours a day and offers anonymous counseling.

The role of peers nearby is by no means small. Not turning a blind eye when a friend's changes are felt is true friendship. Rather than prying, it takes courage to naturally strike up a conversation and, if necessary, inform a teacher or counselor. The moment one joins a gambling site with a friend or pulls them into a game, it is no longer friendship but complicity.

Parents' attitudes are even more decisive. The thought "surely not my child" is the most dangerous starting point. Monitoring a child's smartphone usage time and apps, and naturally discussing allowance flows, is not control but protection. When abnormalities are detected, seek professional help rather than pressuring the child. The more emotionally one pushes, the deeper the child hides. Approach with care, but do not rush.

Schools are also critical frontlines. Teachers are in a position to detect changes up close. Systems must function to catch small signals and link them to counseling. Collaboration with school police officers and coordination with local gambling problem prevention and recovery centers are not optional but essential. Preventive education must not remain merely formal. It must be a living education that allows children to empathize and reflect on themselves. Education that fosters a correct understanding of finance must also be robustly strengthened.

Another problem frequently encountered in this process is "debt." Youth addicted to gambling suffer secondary damage due to financial issues. However, debts incurred through illegal gambling are mostly legally void or difficult to enforce. The act of using such debts as leverage to threaten or demand repayment is itself a crime. The vicious cycle that leads to further wrong choices under the weight of fear must be broken without fail. If legal consultation is needed, assistance can be obtained through the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (132). Not hiding but reporting is the starting point for resolution.

Our society already has multiple channels open for support. 1336 provides 24-hour counseling and recovery linkage, while 1388 supports various crisis situations faced by youth. Through schools, children can be connected to school police officers, and illegal gambling can be reported via the Gambling Industry Integrated Supervision Committee Illegal Gambling Industry Monitoring and Reporting Center at 1855-0112. This is why children do not have to bear the problem alone.

Most importantly, one fact is clear: gambling addiction is not a matter of shame but a condition requiring healing and treatment. The earlier it is detected and intervened, the higher the chance of recovery. The fact that 5,838 youth received professional counseling in 2025 alone shows that more children need help.

The fact that a child has fallen into gambling can be a great shock to parents. The desire to hide it is also natural. However, that silence blocks recovery. Making the first call, asking for help—that is already half the solution.

Signs are already among us. What is now needed are eyes that do not look away and the courage to extend a hand first. Protecting a child begins not with grand decisions, but with a single gesture we offer today.

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*This content was translated by AI.