“Casino” Dominates Korean Home Theater: Viewership Soars for MBC’s New Series
Seoul, South Korea – July 5, 2025 – MBC’s new special series, “Casino,” has launched to resounding success, captivating audiences and securing the top spot in it’s timeslot. The premiere, broadcast on July 4th, achieved a peak viewership of 5.8% per minute, with an average national household rating of 4.5% [[1]].
The gripping first episode introduced viewers to Cha Moo-sik (played by choi Min-sik), a figure who once controlled the casinos of the Philippines. The narrative begins with Cha Moo-sik’s arrest by the Filipino National examination Service, facing accusations of murder related to the Silver and Philippine Khalis Hotel, along with alleged ties to Chinese gangsters. Despite being handcuffed,Cha Moo-sik maintained a stoic demeanor,only to erupt in anger towards reporters.
The episode skillfully wove between the present-day investigation and Cha Moo-sik’s challenging upbringing. Flashbacks revealed a childhood marked by poverty and familial hardship, with young Moo-sik (Song Min-jae) navigating a life steeped in gambling and crime, initially through assisting his father, Cha Kyung-deok (Kim Roha), at a local gambling den.
The series charts Cha Moo-sik’s evolution from a newspaper delivery boy to an English school operator in Daejeon, and ultimately, to a casino entrepreneur. Introduced to the world of Baccarat by Jong-hyun (Lee Moon-sik), a detective, and Chiyoung, Moo-sik quickly demonstrates a natural aptitude for the game and a keen business sense, leading him to establish “Casinova.”
What’s Next?
The second episode promises to further unravel Cha Moo-sik’s journey and the complexities of his burgeoning casino empire.Viewers are left anticipating how his past experiences will shape his future and the challenges he will face in the competitive world of gambling.
Stay tuned to world-today-news.com for continued coverage of “Casino” and the latest in Korean entertainment.
