The Hong Kong Pulse

With the huge amounts of Americans, ABCs, CBCs in the Central area, a poker game was bound to start up. I stopped by Philia in Lan Kwai Fong (4-8 Arbuthnot Road, Central) today after work to check out their poker tournament. Since gambling is illegal in Hong Kong, the tournament itself is gimmicky–you pay 200 HKD for two “drinks”, which comes with a free entry to the tournament. Then the winner of each night will win a $1000 drink coupon and a free spa/massage coupon (sorry folks, it’s the legit massages in Central, not the “massages” in Mongkok or Shenzen), and the winner of each night also gain entry into the “big tournament” to take place at the end of 7 weeks, with the winner of that getting a roundtrip ticket for two to Singapore.

Since the tournament is “free”, everyone tends to play loose/dumb and bust out early. This is where things get interesting… I noticed as people busted out, they didn’t leave, they sat and waited at an empty table. Then when the busted reached 8 or so, they started to play a side game…for real money. Screw the HK rules, it’s all out the window there. I guess they can always pull one of those “cover ups” if cops ever bust into place. If you’ve seen God of Gamblers, you will know what I’m talking about. Let’s just say get ready to eat chips.

Send it.

This is Volar having some model night near near Philia… yeah…..LKF for ya. Personally I’d rather play poker.

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