Is Playing Go-Stop for Fun Among Family Members Subject to Gambling Punishment?

Low Likelihood of Gambling Charges but High Addiction Risk, Caution Advised

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] “Is playing Go-Stop with 100-won points among family members considered gambling?”

After having dinner with family members for the first time in a while, they start a game after a long time. The ‘Jeombak Go-Stop (Hwatu card game with 100-won points per point)’ unfolds on a green blanket. It starts simply for fun, but the stakes often rise to 200 won, 500 won. This is a common scene seen across the country during holiday seasons. However, whether Go-Stop played among family members should be regarded as gambling is ambiguous.

Strictly speaking, Go-Stop played with family or relatives is also considered a clear ‘gambling’ act. Gambling includes all acts of betting money or valuables on uncertain outcomes. However, whether holiday Go-Stop legally constitutes punishable gambling varies depending on the situation.

Article 246 of the Criminal Act states that “a person who gambles shall be punished by a fine not exceeding 10 million won,” but exempts cases that are “only casual entertainment.” However, there is no clear regulation on how much “casual entertainment” is allowed.

Generally, courts distinguish between gambling crimes and simple casual entertainment based on factors such as the place and time of gambling, the gambler’s occupation, the scale of the stakes, the circumstances leading to gambling, and habitualness. The common interpretation is that if the stakes are not excessively high and it is enjoyed just for fun, the likelihood of being punished for ‘gambling crime’ for Go-Stop played during holidays is low.

However, regardless of whether ‘gambling crime’ punishment applies, experts emphasize the need to be cautious about ‘gambling addiction’ even with simple Go-Stop played with family.

Holiday Go-Stop also has the characteristics of gambling, so there is a considerable possibility that what starts as fun can lead to addiction.

In particular, Go-Stop is one of the most familiar and easily accessible types of gambling around us. Nevertheless, few people are aware of Go-Stop addiction.

Experts stress that Go-Stop should be regarded as clear gambling and should be enjoyed only for fun, not for the purpose of winning money. They emphasize the need to recognize that the thrilling experience of winning money can easily develop into gambling addiction and to remain cautious.

A representative from the Korea Center on Gambling Problems Management said, “Most people think they are not addicted to gambling and unrelated to gambling, but anyone can become addicted,” adding, “If enjoyed pleasantly, it can be a good game, but since problems arise in the opposite case, one should cultivate the habit of self-restraint.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.