Casino side effects feared

Fears and concerns of the casino gambling fever have been raised by many over the opening of the casino for Korean nationals in the Jongson area of Kangwon Province.

Year-round holiday season:

Since its opening Oct. 28, the average number of gamblers at the casino has stood at 3,300 a day, and the Small Casino Hotel has enjoyed full capacity of its 199 rooms, the highest occupancy rate in the nation.

With all rooms near the casino unavailable, hotels in the nearby Taebaek City also have enjoyed brisk business due to customer overflow.

The nearly empty and desolate abandoned mining town now bustles with gamblers and tourists who flock to the "Korean Las Vegas" in their automobiles, bringing greater business to the restaurants and other entertainment facilities in the area.

At the adjacent Gohan and Sahbuk areas, as well as Taebaek City, the talk of the town seems to be, "So-and-so lost huge last night," and, "There was a mega-jackpot winner last night." Many tell stories of their gambling exploits filled with excitement and regret.

Even in distant Kangneung City, some of the residents have begun to take lessons in blackjack and dream of windfalls.

At the Jongson mining town, a pawn shop has opened targeting gamblers who have run out of money, and it has been revealed that three other pawn shops are preparing to open.

Worries of overindulgence:

As casino fever has taken its grip, many fear the sure-to-rise gambling addiction and gambling-related bankruptcies, as well as other side effects of gambling.

At the casino where it is common for gamblers to lose 400,000 to 500,000 won in a matter of a couple of hours, there is a possibility of the casino destroying families at the abandoned mining town rather than fulfilling its original intent of helping to revive the economic vitality of the region.

With nonresident gamblers cashing personal bank notes in the values of 10 million to 30 million won and with so many 1 million won notes here and there, many residents have expressed their loss of a sense of the value of money.

Already, loan sharks and other organized crime syndicates have begun to move in for their cut in the casino.

"We have seen some nonresident loan sharks and possible syndicate members working together to provide loan services to gamblers," a resident said.

An official of the management company, Kangwon Land said: "There have been frequent sightings of some thugs patrolling the area near the casino as a warning to others. Should such organized gangsters become involved, the casino might not be safe recreational facility for the general public."

At the Kangwon Land home page, there have been messages of criticism for the lack of service at the casino.

"The dealer and the floor man openly asked for tips and frowned when they were not tipped," one visitor posted at the site.

Another wrote, "The service is third-rate, yet the minimum betting limit is higher than casinos abroad."

Kyung In-Su sunghyun@donga.com