Foreigner-only casino operator Grand Korea Leisure bounced back in May, with casino sales jumping by 78.9% year-on-year and 215.4% month-on-month to KRW18.21 billion (US$14.6 million)
The improved result comes after South Korea began easing domestic COVID-19 restrictions since March and dropped a requirement for international arrivals to quarantine for seven days as of 1 April 2022. Authorities also began issuing visas to international visitors for the first time in more than two years from 1 June.
Having seen casinos sales plummet to just KRW5.77 billion (US$4.6 million) in April, GKL has reported significant improvement for the month of May including a 332% sequential rise in table game sales to KRW16.18 billion (US$12.9 million). Machine sales remained flat at KRW2.03 billion (US$1.6 million).
Drop amount climbed 65.9% year-on-year and 32.0% sequentially to KRW138.63 billion (US$110.8 million) in May, with the KRW532.20 billion (US$425.2 million) in drop for the year so far representing a 66.3% increase over the same period in 2021.
Table game sales for the first five months of the year are up 175.9% to KRW70.28 billion (US$56.1 million).
GKL operates three casinos in South Korea – Gangnam COEX and Gangbuk Millenium Seoul Hilton in Seoul, and Seven Luck Casino Busan Lotte.