Key Moments:
- Lotte Tour Development Co Ltd saw its casino revenue surge 86.3 percent year-on-year in September 2025 to nearly KRW52.95 billion.
- South Korea has begun a visa-free entry program for Chinese travel groups, running until June 2026, aiming to draw more foreign visitors.
- Paradise Co Ltd announced the acquisition of the West Wing of Grand Hyatt Incheon for KRW 210 billion as part of its expansion.
Record-Breaking Financial Performance
South Korea’s three foreigner-only casino operators have reported strong year-on-year growth for September 2025, as the country positions itself to benefit from increased Chinese tourism under a new visa-free entry program.
Lotte Tour Development Co Ltd, operator of the Jeju Dream Tower resort, posted the sharpest rise among its peers. The company’s casino sales climbed 86.3 percent compared to the prior year, reaching nearly KRW52.95 billion (€35.7 million) in September. This marked a 23.2 percent increase over August 2025 as well.
The growth was primarily fueled by table games, which generated KRW51.11 billion (€35 million), representing an 88.2-percent jump from September 2024. Revenue from machine games rose to KRW1.83 billion (€1.25 million), an increase of 44.7 percent year-on-year. In the first nine months of 2025, Lotte Tour recorded KRW333.93 billion (€228.6 million) in casino revenue, up 51.3 percent.
Industry-Wide Gains and Expansion Strategies
Paradise Co Ltd, which operates venues in Incheon, Seoul, Busan, and Jeju, also reported continued growth. September revenue rose 4.3 percent year-on-year to KRW 64.03 billion (€38.9 million), though this represented a 20.4 percent decrease from August. The company’s table games contributed KRW 59.01 billion (€35.8 million), a 3.4 percent climb over last year, while machine games revenue grew 16.5 percent.
This marks Paradise Co Ltd’s fifth straight month of year-on-year growth, bringing its total sales for the first three quarters of 2025 to KRW 673.70 billion (€409.0 million), an increase of 9.5 percent compared to the same period a year ago. The company has also announced plans to acquire the West Wing of the Grand Hyatt Incheon hotel for KRW 210 billion (€127.6 million) as it looks to expand near the capital’s airport.
Grand Korea Leisure Co Ltd (GKL), part of the Korea Tourism Organisation, reported September casino sales of KRW 34.78 billion (€21.1 million), which was a 1.4 percent increase from the prior year despite being slightly down from August. Growth in machine-game revenue of 26 percent year-on-year helped offset a 0.8 percent decline in table games. From January to September, GKL’s casino revenue reached KRW 318.71 billion (€193.5 million), a 10.9 percent increase year-on-year.
New Visa-Free Entry Policy Targets Chinese Visitors
South Korea is implementing a new initiative that allows groups of three or more travelers from mainland China to enter the country without a visa for up to 15 days. This pilot program began this week and is scheduled to continue through June 2026.
The rollout aligns with the busy “Golden Week” holiday in China and local South Korean holidays, a traditionally lucrative period for the tourism sector. Tourism officials project a significant boost in visitor numbers as a result, benefiting casinos in particular. Jeju Dream Tower reports that Chinese guests make up about 80 percent of its foreign patrons. The resort is offering 10 percent discounts, along with special dining and shopping benefits, to attract new arrivals.
The Korea Tourism Organisation states that 2.54 million visitors from China traveled to South Korea in the first half of 2025, reaching approximately 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels. With the visa-free pilot underway, officials are optimistic for further gains, strengthening the foreigner-only casino segment as regional competition intensifies.
Major Industry Conference Approaches
SiGMA Central Europe is set to take place at Fiera Roma in Rome from 03–06 November 2025, with 30,000 delegates, more than 1,000 exhibitors, and over 550 expert speakers. The event is positioned as a major networking and industry-shaping opportunity for participants seeking to connect with leaders driving change in the sector.
Casino Revenue Figures at a Glance
| Company | September 2025 Casino Revenue | Year-on-Year Growth (%) | Jan-Sept 2025 Revenue | Year-on-Year Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotte Tour Development Co Ltd | KRW52.95 billion | 86.3 | KRW333.93 billion | 51.3 |
| Paradise Co Ltd | KRW 64.03 billion | 4.3 | KRW 673.70 billion | 9.5 |
| Grand Korea Leisure Co Ltd (GKL) | KRW 34.78 billion | 1.4 | KRW 318.71 billion | 10.9 |
- Author
Daniel Williams
