Busan police arrest over 100 people in sweep on holdem pubs

Police say pubs were operating covert gambling rooms.

South Korea.- Busan police have carried arrested 104 people in operations against holdem pubs they say were hosting illegal gambling. Some 16 venues have been ordered to shut or suspend operations.

Holdem pubs are allowed to host poker provided that no money is wagered. But police say that 10 alleged operators, including a man in his 40s identified as Mr. A, will face charges of running illegal gambling establishments and violating the Tourism Promotion Act. Some 94 people, mostly dealers and staff, were referred without detention.

According to the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, the venues had been operating since January, using KakaoTalk open chat rooms to screen customers before allowing entry. Once inside, customer allegedly exchanged cash for chips and played Texas hold’em despite the pubs being registered as restaurants.

Investigators said the operators relied on cash transactions to avoid detection, offered unlimited betting chips and exchanged them back into cash in violation of gambling laws. Over ten months, the total stakes across the 16 venues are estimated to have surpassed KRW9bn (US$6m). Police say they have secured approximately KRW900m (US$600,000) in criminal proceeds after obtaining a court order.

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Police say pubs were operating covert gambling rooms. South Korea.- Busan police have carried arrested 104 people in operations against holdem pubs they say were hosting illegal gambling. Some 16…