Unlawful sports gambling among minors increases rapidly, and social awareness must be raised
Jun 22, 2025
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All forms of sports betting, including similar sites that mimic Sports Toto's unique games 'Toto' and 'Proto', are illegal, and the use of minors, especially those under the age of 19, is strictly prohibited by law.
Under the current National Sports Promotion Act, it is illegal to sell sports promotion voting rights or provide refunds to minors. Violation of this could result in imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won. In addition, operators of illegal gambling sites as well as those who participate in the site can be sentenced to up to five years in prison or fined up to 50 million won, requiring special attention from minors.
Recently, it has emerged as a social problem as minors' access to illegal sports gambling sites has increased. Access barriers have been lowered due to the spread of smartphones and the development of online environments, and more and more teenagers are touching illegal activities in anticipation of curiosity or small profits through advertisements that are indiscriminately exposed on SNS and various communities.
The problem does not end there. Beyond simple financial damage, secondary damage such as personal information leakage, threats caused by proxy betting, and criminal involvement continues to occur, so social alertness is urgently needed.
The government and related agencies are implementing various systems to strengthen crackdowns on illegal sports gambling and block minors from accessing them. However, some point out that crackdown alone is not enough as the operation method of illegal sports gambling sites is gradually evolving. Accordingly, there is a growing need for widespread prevention education and awareness improvement campaigns.
In this regard, an official from Sports Toto Korea said, "Illegal sports gambling is not just a game, it is a clear criminal act, and it is subject to severe legal punishment."We will continue various preventive activities and campaigns to prevent the influx of illegal sports gambling by minors." he said.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
