• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

GKL biz up, S.Korea pushes to Oct 31 visa-free for Japanese

Aug 31, 2022 Newsdesk Latest News, Rest of Asia, Top of the deck  


GKL biz up, S.Korea pushes to Oct 31 visa-free for Japanese

Grand Korea Leisure Co Ltd (GKL), an operator in South Korea of foreigner-only casinos, told GGRAsia on Wednesday that its gaming business had been “gradually improving” in August.

The timing coincides with a visa-free entry scheme for holders either of Japan-, Macau-, or Taiwan-issued passports. The scheme had been due to run from August 4 to 31, but on Wednesday the South Korea authorities said it would be extended to October 31, reported Yonhap News Agency.

Yonhap said on Wednesday – citing the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism but without mentioning a base number – that as a result of the visa-free programme, the daily average of tourists from Japan and Taiwan in August up to the 21st of the month, increased by about 97 percent from July.

The Grand Korea Leisure spokesperson noted to GGRAsia however that the firm had “not seen a business surge via that visa-free scheme in August”.

Nonetheless, the general direction of South Korea entry policy is currently toward easing rules.

The country’s Central Disease Control Headquarters said on Wednesday that from Saturday (September 3), travellers would no longer need a ‘negative’ Covid-19 test certificate simply to board an inbound flight or vessel.

Visitors will still need to take a test within 24 hours of arrival in the country, and will still need to quarantine for seven days if they test ‘positive’.

In other matters, Grand Korea Leisure confirmed on Wednesday that relocation work had started regarding a new home for one of its two casinos in the South Korean capital, Seoul.

The Seven Luck-branded venue currently at the Millennium Seoul Hilton hotel in Gangbuk (pictured in a file photo), is to transfer operation to Seoul Dragon City in Yongsan, another part of Seoul. The deal for that was confirmed in December, via a filing by the casino firm to the Korea Exchange.

Grand Korea Leisure’s current lease contract at the Millennium Seoul Hilton will expire on December 31. The casino company’s new lease at Seoul Dragon City runs from January 1, 2023, to August 15, 2032.

Seoul Dragon City currently hosts four hotel brands: Grand Mercure, ibis Styles, Novotel, and Novotel Suites, offering 1,700 rooms in total.

Grand Korea Leisure – a subsidiary of the Korea Tourism Organization – also runs a casino at Gangnam in Seoul, and one at Busan in the south of the country.

July casino sales at Grand Korea Leisure rose 17.0 percent month-on-month, to KRW28.61 billion (US$21.3 million at current rates), the firm had said in an August 3 filing. Judged year-on-year, it was a 278.0-percent improvement.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • GKL Aug casino sales at US$25mln, driven by Seoul venues
    GKL Aug casino sales at US$25mln,...

    Sep 04, 2023  

  • South Korea casino operator GKL 2Q profit dips 60pct q-o-q
    South Korea casino operator GKL 2Q...

    Aug 08, 2023  

More news
  • Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets
    Sands China to revitalise firecracker...

    Sep 29, 2023  

  • Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale
    Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln...

    Sep 29, 2023  


Latest News

Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets

Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets

Sep 29, 2023  

Macau casino operator Sands China Ltd is to add more cultural and tourism elements to the site of the old Iec Long Firecracker Factory and its surrounding areas in Taipa, as part of a government-led...
Read More
Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale

Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale

Sep 29, 2023  

S.Korea Daegu Casino fined US$776k for AML breaches 

S.Korea Daegu Casino fined US$776k for AML breaches 

Sep 29, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”The Philippines has been the primary growth driver, but really the broader Asian gaming industry is something that’s really important to us”

Matt Wilson

Chief executive of casino equipment provider Light & Wonder



Most Popular

  • International Ent to invest at least US$1bln in Manila IRInternational Ent to invest at least US$1bln in Manila IR September 28, 2023
  • Resorts World Sentosa fined again for AML rule breachesResorts World Sentosa fined again for AML rule breaches September 27, 2023
  • Galaxy Ent to build ice rink, bookshop at Macau old shipyardsGalaxy Ent to build ice rink, bookshop at Macau old… September 28, 2023
  • Events a boon, Citi ups Macau 4Q GGR forecast to US$6.5blnEvents a boon, Citi ups Macau 4Q GGR forecast to US$6.5bln September 27, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us