• 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

Jeju Lotte casino might move to Dream Tower in 2019: firm

Jul 31, 2018 Newsdesk Latest News, Rest of Asia, Top of the deck  


Jeju Lotte casino might move to Dream Tower in 2019: firm

South Korean casino investor Lotte Tour Development Co Ltd says it is considering an application to transfer its soon-to-be acquired gaming licence in Jeju Island to its new, under-construction foreigner-only casino project at the holiday hotspot, once it opens in late 2019.

Lotte Tour had announced on Friday an agreement to acquire the entire capital of Paradise Jeju Lotte Casino (pictured) for KRW15 billion (US$13.5 million). The casino venue is currently operated by Paradise Co Ltd and is located in Hotel Lotte Jeju.

Lawrence Teo, Lotte Tour’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in emailed comments to GGRAsia on Tuesday that the company plans to request a transfer of the gaming licence from Paradise Jeju Lotte Casino to the firm’s under-construction Jeju Dream Tower project. “We are considering a transfer [of the casino licence] but we have not decided [on the matter] at this stage,” Mr Teo told us.

The executive said additionally that the company expected to complete the acquisition of Paradise Jeju Lotte Casino on August 17. Under the agreement with Paradise Co, Lotte Tour will also redeem Paradise Jeju Lotte Casino’s debt worth KRW28.4 billion, according to the company’s Friday release.

Lotte Tour is involved in the provision of leisure and travel services. The firm is independent from Lotte Group, one of the country’s largest conglomerates. Lotte Tour is currently co-developing the Jeju Dream Tower scheme in partnership with Chinese state-owned developer Greenland Group. Lotte Tour controls 59 percent of the joint venture.

The Jeju Dream Tower is expected to open in October next year. The tower is poised to become the tallest building in Jeju, with 38 floors. It will include a Grand Hyatt-branded hotel, and offer casino services, according to its promoters.

The Jeju Dream Tower “would mark the second full-fledged integrated resort in Jeju,” said brokerage Union Gaming Securities Asia Ltd in a Monday note. The first was Jeju Shinhwa World casino resort, developed and operated by Hong Kong-listed casino investor Landing International Development Ltd. The first phase of Jeju Shinhwa World opened on February 25.

“We expect Lotte Tour to ultimately transfer this licence [from Paradise Jeju Lotte Casino] to Dream Tower when it opens in late 2019,” wrote analyst Grant Govertsen.

He added: “We would attribute the notably lower price paid by Lotte Tour [compared to the most recent casino trades in Jeju] to the downturn in foreigners-only GGR [gross gaming revenue] in 2017 on the heels of the political spat between China and [South] Korea that saw Chinese visitation to Korea literally cut in half and Chinese-originated GGR cut by one-third.”

Turnover retreated at the country’s foreigner-only casinos in 2017, down by 5.4 percent compared to 2016, according to official data.

Lotte Tour’s Mr Teo said his company would run the operations at Paradise Jeju Lotte Casino, since the purchase came with the operational know-how from Paradise group, “including skilled casino talents such as casino dealers, and its casino operation IT systems”.

The venue currently offers 27 gaming tables and 24 slot machines, according to its website.

The Grand Hyatt at Jeju Dream Tower would have 1,600 all-suite rooms, 11 restaurants and bars, according to its promoter. Union Gaming said in its Monday note that the casino at the new property would offer 200 gaming tables and 400 electronic gaming machines.

(Updated at 9:03pm, July 31, following further clarification from Lotte Tour)


  • tweet
Related articles
  • China demand a boon to S.Korea casinos: brokerage
    China demand a boon to S.Korea casinos:...

    Mar 14, 2023  

  • Annual net casino sales double y-o-y at Jeju Dream Tower
    Annual net casino sales double y-o-y at...

    Mar 14, 2023  

More news
  • Nagasaki governor says Credit Suisse sale may affect IR plan
    Nagasaki governor says Credit Suisse...

    Mar 21, 2023  

  • Hann Casino says taps underserved Manila rich, foreigners
    Hann Casino says taps underserved...

    Mar 21, 2023  


Latest News

Nagasaki governor says Credit Suisse sale may affect IR plan

Nagasaki governor says Credit Suisse sale may affect IR plan

Mar 21, 2023  

Nagasaki governor Kengo Oishi, who last year described Credit Suisse Group AG as one of several potential “financial arrangers” for a proposed casino resort project within that Japanese...
Read More
Hann Casino says taps underserved Manila rich, foreigners

Hann Casino says taps underserved Manila rich, foreigners

Mar 21, 2023  

Tracey Winslow named TransAct global chief revenue officer

Tracey Winslow named TransAct global chief revenue officer

Mar 21, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”The [Macau] month-to-date run-rate represents an approximately 45-percent recovery versus pre-Covid-19 levels for headline gross gaming revenue”

DS Kim and Mufan Shi

Analysts at brokerage JP Morgan Securities



Most Popular

  • Universal Ent seeks to end SPAC deal for Okada Manila listingUniversal Ent seeks to end SPAC deal for Okada Manila… March 20, 2023
  • Macau GGR for March 1 to 19 at US$845mln: JP MorganMacau GGR for March 1 to 19 at US$845mln: JP Morgan March 20, 2023
  • Let’s Win hosts grand opening for club at Hoiana in VietnamLet’s Win hosts grand opening for club at Hoiana in… March 20, 2023
  • Macau visitor tally up 14pct m-o-m in FebruaryMacau visitor tally up 14pct m-o-m in February March 17, 2023
  • LET Group flags 2022 loss of US$52mln, Hoiana repays loanLET Group flags 2022 loss of US$52mln, Hoiana repays loan March 20, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us