m HOLD'EM seeks franchise partners in Osaka after opening two franchised venues

On 13 November, m2R, a Sammy subsidiary that operates poker-focused amusement casino venues, announced that POKER HOUSE & BAR m HOLD'EM would exhibit at the fifth Franchise EXPO Osaka. Following two franchise openings in 2026, the brand now has four venues across Japan, including its company-operated sites. Through its exhibition stand and one-to-one consultations in Osaka, it aims to connect with more companies interested in becoming franchise partners.

Bashamichi and Nishinomiya openings bring the network to four venues

Following its company-operated flagship venues in Meguro and Nakasu, m HOLD'EM opened its first franchised venue in Bashamichi in April 2026. A second franchised venue opened in Nishinomiya in August that year. Its appearance at the exhibition follows these two openings.

At the time of the announcement, the network comprised two company-operated flagship venues and two franchised venues. Rather than simply announcing plans to recruit franchisees, the company is seeking its next partners with franchised venues already trading.

The company’s stated strategy is to expand through franchising in major cities across Japan, particularly in western Japan. Its participation in the Osaka exhibition is intended to broaden its contacts with potential corporate partners. Following the Nishinomiya opening, the event provides another opportunity to present the business in the Kansai region, which includes Osaka, in line with its western Japan expansion strategy.

However, this announcement concerns exhibition participation and franchise consultations, not confirmed new openings. Distinguishing the four existing venues from future expansion plans is important when assessing the brand’s current position.

Stand to cover customer acquisition, costs, earnings and operational support

At its stand, the company will use display panels and supporting materials to introduce the m HOLD'EM franchise business. Three topics are listed: the brand and customer acquisition initiatives; costs and the earnings model; and support from pre-opening preparations through to day-to-day operations. The announcement labels the cost-related topic as “exhibition costs and earnings model”.

For companies considering a franchise, a useful point to note is that the presentation will cover not only the brand itself but also customer acquisition and post-opening operational support. It is positioned as an opportunity to ask how the business is run, as well as to learn about the venues’ atmosphere and services.

Sales and venue operations staff will also be available for individual consultations, answering visitors’ questions directly. This gives prospective franchisees access not just to franchise recruitment contacts but also to those responsible for running the venues.

During consultations, prospective partners should clarify the assumptions behind the earnings model and how support differs between the preparation stage and the period after opening. These are suggested areas for due diligence, not statements about the company’s franchise terms. They can help businesses assess the information against their own opening plans. The scope of any costs should also be confirmed in person rather than inferred from the heading alone.

Exhibition runs from 18–20 November at INTEX Osaka

The fifth Franchise EXPO Osaka will take place over three days, from 18 to 20 November, at INTEX Osaka. Opening hours are 10:00–17:00 each day. The m HOLD'EM stand will be in Hall 6, stand 6-31.

Key visitor information is as follows:

• Exhibition: Fifth Franchise EXPO Osaka (FRAX OSAKA)
• Dates: Wednesday 18–Friday 20 November 2026
• Opening hours: 10:00–17:00
• Venue: INTEX Osaka, Hall 6
• Stand: 6-31
• Stand programme: Introduction to the franchise business and franchise consultations
• Admission: Advance registration required

Visitors must register in advance via the exhibition’s official website. As the company has explicitly stated that it wants to build contacts with corporate partners, businesses considering a new venue should prepare their preferred locations and business plans before attending. This will make it easier to assess how the information presented fits their plans.

Assess existing operations separately from expansion ambitions

The announcement confirms that two franchised venues opened in 2026, that the company intends to expand in major cities across Japan, particularly in the west, and that it is seeking corporate contacts to support that expansion. For those exploring Japan’s franchise market, the exhibition offers an opportunity to discuss the poker house and bar operating model directly with the company’s representatives.

However, growth in the number of venues should be assessed separately from the viability of any individual proposed opening. Visitors can use the published discussion topics—customer acquisition, the earnings model and operational support—to frame specific questions. They should establish what information is available about existing venues and clarify the assumptions needed when applying that information to a potential location.

The practical steps are to register for the exhibition and prepare a summary of preferred locations, cost questions and operational support requirements before visiting stand 6-31 in Hall 6. Understanding the business presented at the exhibition and establishing whether the franchise terms suit your company should be treated as separate stages of the assessment.