Proposal for Partial Amendment to the Act on the Integrated Supervision of Speculative Industries
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] A bill specifying the supervisory authority of the Korea Racing Commission over illegal Hold'em pubs and similar gambling business establishments has been proposed.
On the 31st, National Assembly member Lee Byung-hoon (Gwangju Dong-gu Nam-gu Eul) announced that he had taken the lead in proposing the "Partial Amendment to the Act on the Korea Racing Commission."
Recently, as Hold'em pubs, where people play a type of poker called 'Holdem' while drinking, have been rapidly increasing, cases of 'irregular Hold'em pubs' that exchange chips for money or tolerate cash transactions have also sharply risen.
Legitimate Hold'em pubs operate as a form of 'mind sports,' similar to chess or baduk, where customers pay a certain amount, receive chips used in the game along with drinks, enjoy the game, and are awarded various tournament participation rights based on the number of chips won.
However, in the case of irregular Hold'em pubs, prizes such as gift certificates or virtual currencies are given for winning the game, and some establishments even engage in exchanging chips won in the game directly for cash.
Although illegal operations involving covert cash transactions are spreading in similar casino businesses such as Hold'em pubs and Hold'em bars, the current Korea Racing Commission Act lacks clear provisions to sanction these activities.
The amendment defines acts that provide services similar to gambling industries such as casinos and allow users to gain or lose property through cash or prize offerings as similar gambling activities, and includes such illegal gambling activities within the Korea Racing Commission's on-site guidance and supervision responsibilities.
Rep. Lee said, "For Hold'em to be recognized as a wholesome leisure culture like chess or baduk, thorough crackdowns on illegal establishments must precede," adding, "To minimize the social harm caused by irregular Hold'em pubs and illegal gambling industries, the Korea Racing Commission's supervisory authority over similar gambling activities must be explicitly stipulated by law."
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