For children growing up as true digital natives, smartphones and the internet are integral to daily life, shaping how they socialize, learn and play. The widespread adoption of digital devices — accelerated by the shift to online learning during COVID-19 — has significantly increased adolescent screen time. As a result, the boundaries that once separated learning, gaming and other online activities have become increasingly blurred, creating pathways for gambling to become embedded in everyday routines. Against this backdrop, youth gambling in Korea has emerged as a serious social concern. According to the 2024 Youth Gambling Survey, 4.3 percent of elementary (Grades 4–6), middle and high school students reported having gambled at least once in their lifetime. When projected nationwide, this figure represents an estimated 170,000 students. More concerning, nearly 20 percent of these students reported gambling regularly over the past six months, revealing that gambling is not a one-time experiment, but an emerging behavioral pattern. The survey also illuminates the broader social co