South Korea's Gambling Oversight Committee to deploy AI monitoring

The South Korean Gambling Oversight Committee (SGOC) has announced plans to establish an AI-based integrated monitoring system to combat illegal online gambling sites. During a National Assembly audit, SGOC Chairman Choi Byung-hwan detailed the 2026 operational roadmap, which involves collaborating with online platform operators, investigative agencies, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to strengthen detection and blocking mechanisms.

The initiative also focuses on expanding prevention and treatment services. Following a voluntary reporting system for youth cyber gambling that provided services to 877 individuals, the committee aims to standardize prevention programs for elementary, middle, and high school students. Support will also be extended to military personnel to address gambling issues that persist from adolescence into service.

However, some critics have raised concerns regarding the necessity of a new system, noting that existing technologies, such as the ‘Gamble Tracker’ used by Kangwon Land, already exist. There are calls to ensure the new AI system integrates with current technologies to avoid budget waste and to verify the actual effectiveness of youth prevention education, which has seen stagnant participation rates in certain regions.