FAQ
FAQ
The 'Night' of gambling becomes the 'Light' of hope
What is Gambling?
Gambling refers to all actions pertaining to the betting money or something valuable on events, the results of which are uncertain. People gamble because of the desire to easily win big money or to experience some form of pleasure (e.g. thrill, excitement, electrifying pleasure); and because they have unreasonable expectations and fantasies about winning the game. Various betting games (including horse racing, bicycle races, motorboat racing, casinos, lottery tickets, bullfighting, share transactions, Internet gambling) we know of can also be referred to as gambling. If you bet money playing Baduk at a Baduk club, that can also be referred to as gambling.
So, What is the Gambling Addiction?
Gambling addiction refers to persistent gambling, failing to control gambling impulses through the use of will power even though this is causing conflict and problems between the gambler and his/her family and creating financial, social, and legal problems. Gambling itself is not an evil; but if a person engages in persistent and repetitive gambling and is unable to refrain from gambling even when it becomes a drain on one’s time and finances, then a person is addicted to gambling. Once you are addicted to it, you lose the ability to voluntarily control your gambling habits and become obsessed with gambling and neglect more important things in your life. Over time, gambling addicts tend to increase the betting amount out of feelings of disillusionment or excitement or in order to recover gambling losses; and they come to feel anxious or become sensitive or grumpy when they are not gambling.
Stage of Change Model of Gambling Addiction
Closing Stage | Maintenance StagePre-contemplation StageContemplation StagePreparation StageAction Stage
Recurrence
- Pre-contemplation Stage : A stage where you are not considering a change
- Contemplation Stage : A stage where you come to have conflicting emotions because you are willing to change but recognize that this change requires involves effort and hardship
- Preparation Stage : A stage where you make a resolution to change and establish a specific action plan
- Action Stage : A stage where you cope with a crisis occurring while implementing the plan and train to cope with it
- Maintenance Stage : A stage where you maintain the achieved change at Action Stage and prevent a recurrence
Development of Gambling Addiction and Recovery Stage
Addiction ProcessRecovery Process
- Winning stage
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- Accidental gambling
- Exciting Jackpot experience
- Fantasy about winning
- Increase in betting amounts
- Losing stage
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- Being obsessed with gambling
- Increase in debt
- Hiding the fact that you have gambled
- Lies
- Interpersonal problems
- Despair stage
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- Asking the people around you to pay your debt
- Being alienated from others
- Increase in the amount of time spent on gambling
- Occurrence of a legal problem
- Giving-Upof stage
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- Suicidal thoughts & attempts
- Marital problems (divorce)
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Increase in drug use and drinking, emotional pain
- Resolution stage
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- Emotional desire for help
- Having hope
- Stopping gambling
- Being responsible for problem gambling
- Rehabilitation stage
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- Paying off the debt
- Money management
- Having an interest in a new field
- Improving family relationships
- Restoration of confidence
- Growth stage
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- Reflecting on yourself
- Sacrifice for others
- Facing a problems
- New way of life
How to Treat Gambling Addiction?
You can treat your addiction through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (seeking changes in your thinking and behavior related to gambling by familiarizing yourself with realizing your own state of mind or physical conditions), through the exploration of suitable activities that can be alternatives to gambling, through Alternative Therapy (learning about desirable ways of coping with problem gambling to overcome it), through Gamblers Anonymous (anonymous problem gamblers meet together to overcome and solve problems caused by gambling by helping each other) and through other strategies. If you are experiencing strong urges to gamble or are suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms, you may need to be hospitalized or treated with medication. Anti-craving medication is commonly used and reduces your gambling cravings.
What Help can l Receive from KPGA?
Prevention Service
We are providing customized target-specific prevention
- Preventive education Prevention education considering life cycle(infants, adolescents, adults, etc.), education for those working at related organizations, education for high- risk groups and vulnerable social groups
- Spreading information Via the media, operation of Awareness Week, implementation of events and campaigns, creation and distribution of promotional materials, and other activities
- Contents for prevention Development and distribution of the contents for prevention and prevention education and promotional contents (textbook for education, manuals, plays, films, etc.)
- Early detection and requesting help services
Treatment Service
We are providing free customized treatment programs considering the different stages of change.
- Individual counseling People needing it, their families, etc.
- Group counseling Group counseling for people needing it, family counseling
- Programs Financial service, legal service, judicial affairs service, alternative treatment(experiencing culture, arts activities, etc.), others(Clover Camp, Clover Day, etc.)
What is Illegal Gambling?
In the Republic of Korea, only the gambling activities performed in the 7 gambling industries (casino (Kangwon Land Casino), horse racing (Korea Racing Authority), bicycle races, motorboat racing, Sports toto (Korea Sports Promotion Foundation), lottery tickets (Lottery Commission), Cheongdo Bullfighting Festival (the Cheongdo Public Business Corporation)) that are recognized by the special law made by the government are deemed legal.
How to Report Illegal Gambling?
Anyone can report illegal gambling activity or incitement to engage in illegal gambling. For example, anyone can report information, etc. about websites that offer illegal online gambling, illegal casinos, illegal Sports toto, illegal horse racing, illegal bicycle races and motorboat racing, illegal speculative games, illegal lottery tickets, illegal bullfighting or information about operators operating the websites.
- Call 1855-0112
- or contact the Illegal Gambling Industry Monitoring and Reporting Center at www.ngcc.go.kr
Related Organizations
| Division | Organizations | Phone | Homepage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal & Financial counseling |
Korea Legal Aid Corporation Individual Rehabilitation and Bankruptcy Comprehensive Support Center | 132 | www.klac.or.kr | |
| Korean Bar Association Korea Legal Aid Corporation | 02-3476-6515 | www.legalaid.or.kr | ||
| Korea Legal Aid Center for Family Relations | 1644-7077 | www.lawhome.or.kr | ||
| Credit Counseling Recovery Center | 1600-5500 | www.ccrs.or.kr | ||
| Illegal Collection Complaint Center | Anti-corruption & Civil Rights Commission | 110 | www.acrc.go.kr | |
| Financial Supervisory Service | 1332 | www.fss.or.kr | ||
| Domestic violence | Women's Human Rights Institute of Korea | 1366 | www.stop.or.kr | |
| Health & Welfare | Health and Welfare Call Center | 129 | www.129.or.kr | |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Korea Gamblers Anonymous | 02-8888-320 | www.dandobak.co.kr | |
| Korea G.A & GAM-ANON | 02-521-2141 | www.dandobak.or.kr | ||
8 Floor, Namsan Square, 173, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea | Korea Problem Gambling Agency | TEL : 02-740-9000
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