South Korea enforced a ban on Friday, May 17, on youth access and employment at "hold'em" pubs and similar drinking establishments that offer gambling-style games such as poker1. The measure targets venues that had previously admitted adolescents because they were registered as restaurants, a gap the government said raised concerns about protecting teenagers from gambling1.
The ban covers game providers offering gambling activities resembling those found in casinos, as defined by the Tourism Promotion Act1. That includes poker, blackjack, baccarat, roulette and dice, and also establishments offering games that simulate betting on horse racing or bicycle racing1. Even businesses approved for youth access fall under the new regulation if they offer gambling games1.
Penalties are set out by offense:
| Offense | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Hiring teenagers | Up to three years in prison or fines up to 30 million won ($22,101) |
| Admitting youths to such venues | Up to two years in prison or fines up to 20 million won |
| Failing to display youth access and employment restrictions | Up to two years in prison or fines up to 20 million won |
Businesses must also clearly display restrictions on youth access and employment1.
The government cited rising juvenile gambling. According to the National Police Agency, the number of juvenile gambling offenders rose to 171 last year from 74 cases in 20221. A diagnostic survey by the gender ministry last year identified 28,838 high-risk students out of 877,660 participants, and the survey expanded this year to include fourth graders in elementary school1.
"Active precautions are needed as youth gambling is increasing and becoming a social problem. We will take care of the young to keep them safe from illegal gambling,"
What it means for players
The change applies to venues rather than to individual bettors, and it turns on age. Anyone under the legal youth threshold can no longer enter or be employed at hold'em pubs and similar places that run poker, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, dice or race-simulation games, even where the business is otherwise licensed to admit young people1. For adults, the games themselves are unaffected by this measure; what changes is who is allowed inside and who may work there. Venues that keep serving these games now carry display obligations and the risk of penalties for owners, which may affect how strictly they check identification at the door. The rules sit alongside South Korea's broader restrictions on where and how residents may gamble, covered in the guide to gambling in South Korea and the explanation of why gambling is so restricted in South Korea. For poker specifically, see can I play poker in South Korea and poker tournaments in South Korea. The line between games of skill and chance in Asian law is set out in games of skill vs games of chance, and the wider regional picture in gambling laws in Asia.
What happens next
The government plans to provide counseling for teenagers identified as at risk of gambling through diagnostic tests1.
It will also support residential rehabilitation programs scheduled for May and November this year1. No further enforcement dates beyond the May 17 start have been reported1.
