Seoul is currently ranked 9th in the 2008 Global Cities Index, making it one of the most important cities in the world. The city has also hosted one of the Asia-Pacific region’s largest poker tournaments – the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT).

Despite being one of the stops on the APPT, Seoul has yet to establish itself as a world-class poker destination. The city has only two casinos that offer poker – the 7-Luck Casino and the Walker Hill Casino. However, you won’t find many natives at the poker tables. Korean nationals are forbidden to enter all but one of the country’s casinos, and the Korean government has strict rules when it comes to gambling.

In addition to being unable to get their live poker fix, it is also tough for Koreans to get a game of online poker. Any form of online gambling is technically illegal in Korea, and online poker sites like Full Tilt and Party Poker are blocked. In spite of this, there is still a highly-skilled group of Korean players plying their trade online, based out of Macau and the Philippines.

Koreans seem to have a natural flair for the game, and seem to do particularly well online. The Korean Poker League (KPL), also run free play tournaments – and are at present the only way Korean nationals can play legally in their home country.

With the Korean government looking unlikely to change their stance on poker anytime soon, the KPL is the only avenue for live poker in Korea for Korean nationals. Koreans can’t even play in the APPT when it rolls into town. The numerous restrictions means few new players come into the game, so its future looks to be uncertain for now.

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