Saving the Nation's Children Ensnared by Online Gambling
Digital crimes no longer always manifest as visible physical violence but operate more stealthily, infiltrating virtual spaces with equally destructive power. Online gambling is a prime example.
This phenomenon is often perceived as a shortcut to quick profits, yet harbours hidden criminality that erodes societal morals, social fabric, and economic stability. The irony is that society is no longer merely victims but actively part of the digital crime chain.
Online gambling, or ‘judol’, exemplifies how criminal finance has rapidly expanded in modern society. In a capitalist system prioritising profit, many are lured by promises of easy gains and quick returns, unaware they face not mere gambling but organised crime capable of destroying individuals, families, and even the nation.
Demographic data shows that 2% of online gamblers, or 80,000 children, are under 10 years old. Those aged 10–20 account for 11% (approximately 440,000), 21–30 for 13% (520,000), 30–50 for 40% (1.64 million), and over 50 for 34% (1.35 million). (PPATK, 2024)
Recent data from the Ministry of Communications and Digital reveals a serious situation: nearly 200,000 children are exposed to online gambling, with 80,000 under 10. These figures are not mere statistics but a stark warning that children’s digital spaces are increasingly vulnerable to illegal activities threatening the youth’s future. (Komdigi, 13/5/2026)
Preventing Online Gambling Penetration
A closer look reveals a worrying trend. PPATK’s 2024 report noted 80,000 online gamblers under 10. By May 2026, the Ministry of Communications and Digital reported nearly 200,000 exposed children—a 250% surge in two years. This is not merely a statistical rise but a serious alarm about online gambling’s aggressive infiltration into children’s lives.
This phenomenon shows online gambling has moved beyond a common issue, evolving into a social threat targeting the most vulnerable—children psychologically unprepared to understand digital manipulation risks. Our nation’s youth are effectively ‘ensnared’ by online gambling, trapped with no clear escape.
This means the state can no longer rely solely on site blocking or sporadic enforcement. A serious, systematic, and sustained intervention is needed through digital space monitoring, enhanced digital literacy in families and schools, and widespread public education to foster collective awareness of online gambling’s dangers.
On social media, online gambling promotions remain easily accessible. Direct observations show these contents often include pornography and child exploitation. Minors are frequently recruited to advertise sites or apps to attract users. This indicates online gambling operates alongside other digital crimes, slowly ensnaring children unaware.
More concerning, social media—once a space for entertainment and interaction—is increasingly filled with deviant practices. Online gambling content repeatedly surfaces, seemingly normalised in daily digital life. Consequently, some view shortcuts as quick money-making methods, ignoring legal, moral, and social risks. If unchecked, this threatens not just digital security but the youth’s perception of hard work, processes, and life values.
Analysing the issue reveals ineffective national digital regulation and governance. Government efforts to eradicate online gambling have not addressed root causes—blocking sites without establishing early detection systems, cross-sector oversight, or integrating financial authorities, educational institutions, and law enforcement.
Online gambling is not merely a digital illegal activity but part of an underground economic ecosystem directly impacting macroeconomic stability and national productivity. Breaking the gambling chain cannot be achieved through site blocking alone. Past experience shows that when one site is shut down, others emerge under new names and channels. Therefore, tackling online gambling must be understood as a cross-sectoral issue involving technology, economy, education, and…