[사설] Even elementary school students are addicted to gambling. It is urgent to establish awareness that it is a crime, not a game.

The National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency announced yesterday that it had arrested 4,715 cyber gambling offenders under the age of 19 from September last year to October this year. Almost half of the 9,971 gambling offenders caught during that period, 47.2%, were teenagers. Among them, there were 46 elementary school students, including a 9-year-old child. It’s hard not to lament how things got to this point. The police said they would extend the special crackdown by one year until October next year, but that level of response is not enough. We urge you to come up with special measures in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and city/provincial offices of education.

Looking at the results of the investigation, there are more than one or two shocking points. The 16-year-old male student who was arrested spent nearly 200 million won on baccarat gambling. According to the police, the student saved up pocket money he received from his parents and made seed money, which he then used to save a large amount of money. It was revealed that as many as 16 people created and operated their own gambling sites. It is shocking that teenagers were caught brazenly opening and managing bank accounts to deposit and withdraw stakes or advertising gambling sites online. What future will there be for the country if the same people who are supposed to lead the Republic of Korea in the future are just snooping around like a gambling den?

Gambling among teenagers is especially problematic because, as they do not have a fixed income, they are more likely to commit other crimes to raise money. A typical example is touching the wallet of an acquaintance such as a parent or friend. A police official also said, “It is only an extremely exceptional case to save pocket money to make money for gambling.” Moreover, anyone can easily come across private loan advertisements in cyberspace these days. If teenagers who still have poor discernment and lack of understanding of the economy take out private loans for money, the entire family could end up ruined. This is why it is urgent for police and education authorities to identify the current state of cyber gambling among youth and prepare measures to eradicate it.

When asked about their motivation for engaging in online gambling, teenagers often answer, “I thought it was just a game and enjoyed it.” We must clearly teach children and adolescents at home and at school that gambling and games are different and that gambling is a crime. Medically, gambling addiction is classified as a ‘habit and impulse disorder’, a type of mental illness. Health authorities should also pay attention to ensure that adolescents who are addicted to gambling receive proper diagnosis and treatment at mental health departments.

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