Korean foreigner-only casino operator Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) is facing growing pressure as a result of COVID-19, with September casino sales falling 76.5% year-on-year and 26.2% compared with August to just KRW9.41 billion (US$8.1 million).
September’s sales figures represent GKL’s lowest monthly total since reopening its casinos on 6 May 2020 following a month-long closure due to COVID-19. The shortened month of May recorded casino sales of KRW10.36 billion (US$8.6 million).
Table game sales fell 77.5% year-on-year and 29.2% sequentially to KRW7.81 billion (US$6.7 million) with machine sales down 69.8% and 7.1% respectively to KRW1.60 billion (US$1.4 million).
For the first nine months of 2020, casino sales have declined 53.0% to KRW169.43 billion (US$146.4 million) with table drop down 61.6% to KRW1.28 trillion (US$1.11 billion).
GKL operates two casinos in Seoul and one in Busan under its Seven Luck brand.