“Hold’em pubs” are expedient casinos that have recently spread around downtown areas, and are formally legal. However, there are many illegal factors as illegal currency exchange takes place.
Kim Sae Ron visited a hold’em pub with her acquaintances in February despite the controversy over “drunk driving”. It is unknown whether this was a habitual visit.
Aside from Kim Sae Ron, the hold’em pub culture spread to young idols in their early 20s. In January last year, SF9 Chani and Hwiyoung were caught by the police while playing in violation of COVID-19 quarantine rules at a hold’em pub in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Hold’em pubs are establishments where players pay to participate in card games and receive chips, which they can exchange for cash illegally. Even legitimate hold’em pubs that provide coupons or other ways to exchange chips for cash are subject to legal punishment. Despite their questionable legality, some hold’em pubs openly use shady methods to avoid legal consequences, such as giving out prizes like tickets or gift cards that players can exchange for cash.
Source: daum
