By Lee Kyung-min
A man who lost 20.8 billion won while gambling at Kangwon Land, the nation’s only casino where locals are allowed, received more than 580 million won in compensation after pursuing a lawsuit for seven years against the casino operator.
The man, surnamed Kim, lost the huge sum of money there after gambling on 181 occasions from April 2003 until April 2007.
In May 2004, he asked Kangwon Land to deny him entry there after losing 10.8 billion won. The company rules state that a gambler can ask for the ban, but it can be lifted if the same person asks three months after the request is made. If a second request is made the ban can only be lifted after one year.
But Kim asked Kangwon Land to lift the ban a month after the initial request, which was accepted.
After requesting to be banned and allowed entry four times, he lost more money.
Kim claimed that Kangwon Land violated the rules on entry bans, demanding that it return all the money he lost.
But the Seoul High Court said the casino was only 20 percent responsible for the charge, 580 million won saying that Kim was more responsible because he failed to quit gambling.
“Kim knew that entering the casino would result in losing money,” the court said in its ruling. “However, the casino was also negligent in taking him back upon his request before the required period passed.”