[Reader Submission] Gambling Among Elderly in Rural Areas: Their "Remaining Life" Disappears

Police Officer Yang Yujin, Administrative Division, Sinan Police Station

Gambling addiction has emerged as a serious social issue in modern society. It has significant impacts on social, economic, and personal levels. Gambling addiction goes beyond simply losing money; it destroys the lives of individuals and families and threatens social stability.

First, gambling addiction causes psychological problems. Gamblers experience thrills through gambling, fail to control their emotions, become addicted, lose control over their own lives, and suffer from depression and helplessness as a result.

Additionally, gambling addiction negatively affects family and social relationships. Gamblers often reduce communication with their families and cause harm to family members through issues such as borrowing money, threatening the peace and stability of the household.

During the off-season, Makgeolli betting Yutnori games held in the front yards of village halls in rural fishing and farming communities sometimes lead to physical altercations among the elderly who participated, or those who lose money may cause domestic conflicts.

In rural fishing and farming areas, professional gambling fraud groups sometimes open gambling venues targeting farmers who come into large sums of money during agricultural product auctions or delivery seasons, instantly plundering the precious money of fishermen and farmers.

The reason gambling has not disappeared even in rural fishing and farming areas is not only due to individual gambling addiction problems but also because there are few proper recreational activities. At the village hall level, various programs such as drawing and singing for the elderly in rural fishing and farming communities should be created to prevent damage caused by gambling, and the local community must collaborate to establish a healthy play culture.

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