The Korea Racing Authority, which governs horse racing in South Korea, has announced a collaboration with Kangwon Land, a prominent casino operator, to address gambling addiction. According to the Shina Ilbo, both organizations will enhance their cooperative efforts and fortify the systems in place for preventing and treating gambling addiction.
Their partnership will focus on consolidating resources related to addiction prevention and counseling, with plans to create a practical network to support individuals struggling with gambling addiction.
A senior official from Kangwon Land emphasized 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 reached a milestone, attracting over 7 million visitors, setting a record for the state-owned facility. The Korea Racing Authority oversees several horse racing parks, including the flagship facility in Seoul and others in Busan and Jeju, generating approximately $4.5 billion in revenue in 2024.
Despite these successes, South Korea is facing increasing rates of gambling addiction, particularly among younger populations. In a response to this crisis, the Prime Minister directed gambling regulators in May to develop a safety net for teenage gambling addicts.
Last week, Kangwon Land executives convened with officials from the Korea Racing Authority at the Hi Healing One center to discuss strategies for tackling this pressing issue. Both organizations have taken significant steps towards addiction treatment, with the Korea Racing Authority launching the U-Can Center network in the late 1990s and Kangwon Land inaugurating its High Healing One center last year after a successful pilot. The U-Can Center offers free counseling services, self-diagnosis tools, and psychological therapy, while High Healing One began as a mindfulness retreat and has expanded to include residential treatment facilities.
During discussions, the organizations explored how artificial intelligence can enhance their existing prevention systems and considered various therapeutic treatment plans relevant to addiction counseling and rehabilitation.
Additionally, the two parties plan to host a joint forum in September to examine IT-driven methods for detecting gambling addiction, inviting experts to share their technological insights. High1 is the only casino in South Korea permitted to admit domestic passport holders.
In December, President Lee Jae-myung expressed concerns that gambling addiction could become a "terminal" problem for the nation.
