MBC's 'Casino' Debuts Strongly Following 'Moving' on Disney+

MBC's decision to air Disney+ originals on television, starting with 'Moving' and now 'Casino' (카지노), has seen a successful launch. The series, which aired on July 4, recorded a nationwide viewership rating of 4.5% according to Nielsen Korea, making it the top show in its time slot.

A particularly gripping moment occurred when Cha Mu-sik (최민식), alongside Ahn Chi-young (김민재), decides to open a casino bar in Daejeon, leading to a spike in ratings to 5.8% during his monologue, "Let’s go for it."

The first episode opened with Cha Mu-sik, a prominent figure in the Philippine casino scene, being urgently arrested by the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation on murder charges involving Chinese gangsters, alongside his benefactor, Min Seok-jun (김홍파). During a press conference while handcuffed, Cha maintained a stoic demeanor but ultimately expressed his anger with a curse.

The episode delved into Cha's troubled childhood, revealing how he was placed in an orphanage due to poverty. After two years, he reunited with his mother and moved to Yeongju, where he struggled to survive in a gambling den run by his father, Cha Kyung-deok (김뢰하), a gangster frequently in and out of prison. His mother (배해선) sold food, while young Mu-sik (송민재) ran errands at the gambling table.

Despite being surrounded by gambling, violence, and crime, there were moments of happiness for young Mu-sik, especially when learning to read from his father. However, when his father was imprisoned again, the family fell apart. Moving to Daejeon with his mother, Mu-sik unexpectedly met his childhood friend Park Jong-hyun (서윤혁) near the train station. He later showcased his business acumen by selling out newspapers on his first day as a vendor.

As time passed, an adult Cha Mu-sik ran an English academy in Daejeon. Through an introduction by his friend Jong-hyun, now a detective (이문식), he met Chi-young, the owner of a casino gaming machine company, who introduced him to baccarat. Recognizing his instinctive business sense, Mu-sik decided to close his academy and fully commit to opening a casino bar.

In the upcoming second episode airing tonight (July 5) at 10 PM, tension escalates as the National Tax Service raids Mu-sik's casino bar, led by the cold and calculating Team Leader Kang Min-jung (류현경). Upon hearing the news, Mu-sik attempts to respond quickly, but his partner Chi-young gets arrested, putting him in a precarious situation. Cornered, Mu-sik ultimately decides to flee overseas, leaving the domestic casino scene behind.

Additionally, the second episode will feature flashbacks to Mu-sik's high school years, showcasing his struggles to survive in a challenging environment. The character's origins and his realistic growth story will be revealed for the first time.

MBC plans to air the first season of 'Casino' (카지노), which consists of eight episodes, every Friday and Saturday at 10 PM, following its release on Disney+ in 2022. The second season is set to premiere on July 27, airing every Sunday night, as MBC aims to establish a new model for terrestrial broadcasting strategy through the TV airing of 'Casino.'