The Korea Racing Authority, which governs horse racing in South Korea, has announced a collaborative effort with Kangwon Land, a prominent casino operator, to address the growing issue of gambling addiction. According to the South Korean newspaper Shina Ilbo, the two organizations are committed to improving their cooperation in order to bolster systems designed for preventing and treating gambling addiction.
They aim to consolidate resources for addiction prevention and counseling, establishing a practical support network for those affected by gambling issues. A senior official from Kangwon Land highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating, "This is a very responsible and important step for institutions leading the gambling industry. We will continue to expand our boundary-breaking exchanges to establish a healthy entertainment industry culture."
Last year, Kangwon Land’s High1 casino recorded over 7 million visitors, setting a new attendance record for the state-owned facility. The Korea Racing Authority manages several horse racing parks, including its primary venue in Seoul as well as tracks in Busan and Jeju. In 2024, these parks amassed approximately $4.5 billion in revenue.
Despite these successes, the rates of gambling addiction are increasing, particularly among younger South Koreans. Responding to this pressing issue, the Prime Minister mandated gambling regulators in May to implement a "safety net" for teenage gambling addicts.
In a recent meeting at the Hi Healing One center, officials from Kangwon Land engaged with executives from the Korea Racing Authority to discuss measures for bolstering addiction support systems. Both entities are pioneers in establishing treatment facilities for gambling addiction. The Korea Racing Authority initiated the U-Can Center network in the late 1990s, while Kangwon Land introduced its High Healing One center last year after successful pilot programs.
U-Can offers complimentary addiction prevention counseling, self-diagnosis tools, and psychological treatment, whereas High Healing One evolved from a mindfulness retreat to include residential treatment for gambling disorders.
During discussions, the parties explored integrating artificial intelligence to enhance addiction prevention frameworks and deliberated over therapeutic treatment plans applicable for addiction counseling and rehabilitation.
They also agreed to host a joint forum in September focused on technological solutions for gambling addiction detection, inviting relevant experts to provide insights.
Notably, High1 remains the sole casino in South Korea authorized to accept local residents. Concerns regarding gambling addiction have reached high levels, with President Lee Jae-myung warning in December that the issue could become "terminal" for the country.
