Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JUL 2022年7月 亞博匯 18 SOUTH KOREA’S FOREIGNER-ONLY CASINOS TO REACH 50% OF PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IN 2022 韓國僅限外國人入內的賭場有望在 2022年恢復至疫情前水平的五成 SOUTH KOREA’S FOREIGNER-ONLY CASINOS are tipped to reach 50% of 2019 business levels this year, boosted by the anticipated return of tourists from Japan. In an article for Business Korea , NH Investment & Securities analyst Hazell Lee said the resumption of visa- free travel for Japanese citizens, expected to resume around July, would see “pent-up demand from Japanese VIPs … unleashed from 2H22.” According to Lee, Japanese visitors accounted for the low-40% range of customers at foreigner-only casinos in South Korea prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Chinese customers in the mid-30% range – representing their top two customer sources. However, while Japanese customers will soon return, “China is adhering to its zero-COVID policy and as its junket regulations remain in effect, it is difficult to expect Chinese VIP demand to return to the pre-pandemic normal this year.” Lee said the nation’s only casino at which locals are permitted to gamble, Kangwon Land, will therefore recover first, followed by integrated resorts with non-casino facilities that are open to domestic customers and foreigner-exclusive casinos. “We present Kangwon Land as our sector top pick, where the benefits of expanded operating capacity (operating hours and number of tables) should become visible alongside business normalization from 2H22,” Lee wrote. 受日本遊客 預期回歸的推動，韓國僅限外國人入內賭場在今年有 望恢復至2019年水平的50%。 農協投資證券分析師Hazell Lee在為《Business Korea》 撰 寫的一篇文章中表示，預計將於7月左右對日本公民恢復的免簽 政策將帶動「2022年下半年日本貴賓被壓抑的需求」。 Lee表示，疫情之前，僅限外國人入內的賭場中日本遊客約 佔四成，而中國遊客約佔三成左右，兩者是這些賭場的兩大客戶 來源地。 不過，儘管日本客人將很快回歸，但「中國正在執行清零政 策，並且由於其針對博彩中介的打擊，很難期待來自中國的貴賓 博彩需求會恢復至疫前的正常水平。」 Lee表示，韓國唯一允許當地人賭博的賭場江原樂園將首先 恢復，其次是對國內客戶開放非賭場設施的綜合度假村及僅限外 國人入內的賭場。 「我們將江原樂園列為行業首選，從2022年下半年開始， 隨著業務正常化，擴大運營能力（營業時間和賭枱數量）的益處 會愈加顯現。」