Mike Kim (poker player)
Mike Kim (Michael Kim) is a professional poker player and the founder of the Asian Poker Federation and MK Global Management Solutions Inc., a gaming service provider based in Metro Manila, Philippines.
In 2023, arrest warrants related to illegal gambling were issued for Kim and two other owners of the Royal Flush Bar and Grill.
Biography
[edit]Kim started his career as an online poker player in 2003 while studying mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois,[1] then started playing full-time once he started earning enough money from it. Kim established the first poker room in South Korea and launched a poker room in Macau at the Starworld Hotel.[2][3]
In the Philippines, he opened and operated Solaire Poker Room at the Solaire Resort and Casino, Manila. Kim also opened LT Poker in Okada Manila.[4][5] He later partnered with the online poker company PokerStars, at City of Dreams Manila.[6]
In early 2016, Kim opened Mike's Room in Manila.[7] The venue received a total of 1,403 entries for Kim's Millionaire Maker tournament.[citation needed]
Kim brought the Asian Poker Tour, the Asia Pacific Poker Tour, and the World Poker Tour to the Philippines.[6]
In 2018, Kim expanded his business into Europe together with business partners Jori Falkstedt and Miikka Saloseutu.[8]
Poker events
[edit]At the 2009 PokerStars APPT Macau, Kim finished 2nd, winning $384,999. He finished 22nd in the 2013 PokerStars APPT Seoul and earned 4,750,000 KRW. At the 2015 PokerStars APPT Season 9 Manila, Kim finished 15th and earned 274,400 PHP.[9][10] Kim finished 5th in the 2013 WSOP Circuit River Rock Main Event, with $64,979 in payouts.[11] Kim won the main event of the PokerStars LIVE Manila Megastack 2 in 2015.[12]
2023 arrest warrant
[edit]In September 2023, officers from multiple units — including vice, narcotics and gang alongside a SWAT team — searched through Royal Flush Bar and Grill off Pleasant Hill Road (located in Duluth, Georgia) owned by Kim. According to police, five employees were taken into custody for commercial gambling and 13 customers were arrested for gambling. Officers also seized more than $50,000 in cash, along with "gambling-related paraphernalia" police said. Arrest warrants have been issued for Kim.[13][14][15][16][needs update]
References
[edit]- ^ Kaiser, Rob (2004-10-03). "Players place bets on poker as career". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
- ^ "StarWorld Hotel". www.starworldmacau.com. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
- ^ Verifer (2018-11-07). "Asian Poker Federation & Verifer Partnership". Verifer. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ David, Tricia (25 February 2018). "Mike Kim to open LT Poker in Okada Manila on March 2". Somuchpoker. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ Blaschke, Ben (17 August 2015). "Poker's thriller in Manila". World Gaming Magazine.
- ^ a b Prieto-Valdes, Tessa (14 September 2014). "Celebrating the big five-one with feasting and poker | Inquirer Lifestyle". Lifestyle Inquirer. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ Hartwell, Louis (29 April 2016). "New Poker Room in Manila opened by Mike Kim". Somuchpoker. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
- ^ Verifer (2018-11-07). "Asian Poker Federation & Verifer Partnership". Verifer. Retrieved 2019-01-13.
- ^ "Mike Kim | Poker Players | PokerNews". www.pokernews.com. Retrieved 2019-01-13.
- ^ "Mike Kim | JJT546 | United States | The Official Global Poker Index – GPI Rankings". Retrieved 2019-01-13.
- ^ "Lincoln Milne wins WSOP Circuit River Rock Main Event". Online Poker News. 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2019-01-13.
- ^ David, Triccia (29 March 2015). "Manila Megastack 2: Mike Kim Wins Main Event". PokerStars. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
- ^ Daily, The Korea (2023-09-20). "18 illegal gamblers including Korean Americans arrested in Atlanta". The Korea Daily. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
- ^ Dean, Hope (2023-09-20). "Gwinnett police arrest 18 people for illegal gambling, search for 3 others". www.atlantanewsfirst.com. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
- ^ "18 charged in illegal gambling bust at Gwinnett County restaurant". FOX 5 Atlanta. 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
- ^ "Royal flush: Police bust illegal gambling operation at Gwinnett County bar". WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta. 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2024-08-16.