Preemptive Ban on 'Je2 Bada Iyagi'... Government Takes Strong Action Against Hold'em Pub Illegal Gambling

Formation of Illegal Response TF, Reward for Arrest Raised from 500,000 to 5 Million Won
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Establishes Prohibition Rules for Casino-Like Activities
Penalty for Illegal Actors Increased to Up to 7 Years Imprisonment

The government is launching a focused crackdown to eradicate illegal activities within Hold'em pubs (establishments where people enjoy card games while drinking), which have recently been spreading.

Hold'em pub caught in Busan.
[Photo by Busan Police Agency]

On the 12th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) held a joint meeting with related ministries including the Sports and Gambling Supervision Commission and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to discuss illegal activities in Hold'em pubs and announced related response measures and countermeasures. Hold'em pubs are a compound word of Hold'em (a type of card game played with a dealer) and pub, where an entrance fee is charged, game venues and chips are provided, and alcoholic beverages are sold. They have recently been rapidly spreading, especially among young people.

The government will first form a 'Hold'em Pub Illegal Response Task Force (TF)' jointly with the MCST, the Sports and Gambling Supervision Commission, the National Police Agency, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to investigate the operational status nationwide. While promoting intensive crackdowns, the reward for those who contribute to arrests will also be increased up to 5 million KRW. Additionally, to strengthen effective punishment, a new penalty clause prohibiting casino-like acts will be established. This is interpreted as a measure to prevent a recurrence of the ‘second Bada Story incident’ in advance.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will investigate the business status and operational conditions of Hold'em pubs nationwide, which have registered as food service businesses, in cooperation with local governments by October this year. In collaboration with local governments and related associations, they will conduct publicity and guidance on compliance requirements for Hold'em pub operators. Furthermore, when new business registrations and permits are issued, they will provide guidance documents containing illegal cases and compliance requirements, and include related content in mandatory legal education to continuously educate operators to prevent violations.

The National Police Agency will promote intensive crackdowns. Since exchanging chips used in games for cash or providing prize money as an entry fee clearly constitutes gambling, business operators will be charged with the crime of establishing a gambling house, and participants will be charged with gambling offenses. Additionally, owners and employees who operate gambling establishments systematically will be charged with forming a criminal organization, and thorough account analysis will be conducted to recover criminal proceeds, with strong enforcement measures planned. Rewards for those who contribute to arrests will also be expanded.

The MCST will introduce a regulation prohibiting casino-like acts under the ‘Tourism Promotion Act.’ Unlike other gambling industries such as horse racing, cycle racing, motorboat racing, and bullfighting, the casino industry has lacked a prohibition clause on similar acts, creating a legislative gap. Once the law is amended, the Sports and Gambling Supervision Commission will be able to monitor illegal gambling within Hold'em pubs, and whistleblowers can receive rewards of up to 50 million KRW. The punishment level for illegal actors will also be increased from the current maximum of 5 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million KRW to up to 7 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 70 million KRW, or both.

An MCST official said, “We will also strengthen publicity to eradicate illegal gambling in Hold'em pubs,” adding, “We will mobilize the full government capacity to respond strongly and comprehensively to ensure that illegal activities in Hold'em pubs do not become a social problem like the ‘second Bada Story’ incident.”

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