South Korea’s foreigner-only casino operators are positioning for a stronger-than-usual Lunar New Year (LNY) trading window in February, as analysts point to accelerating inbound demand from mainland China and a shift in regional travel patterns.
Local outlet The Asia Business Daily cited multiple analysts urging near-term positioning in casino equities, with Paradise Co flagged as the preferred listed name, alongside Lotte Tour Development (Jeju Dream Tower) and Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) (Seven Luck).
The bull case is being built on January operating prints. Paradise posted record monthly net casino sales of KRW 94.3 billion (US$65.3 million), up 31.4% year-on-year, with table drop reported at KRW 632.6 billion—a data point operators watch closely for volume confirmation. In Jeju, Lotte Tour said Dream Tower casino net revenue reached KRW 45.6 billion (US$31.4 million) in January, with table drop at KRW 233.5 billion and visitation of 53,052, signaling broader recovery beyond VIP-only dynamics.
South Korea bets big on Chinese tourists with visa-free entry—casinos set to win big in 2025
For Seoul metro exposure, GKL reported January casino revenue near US$25 million, supported by a 14.7% y/y rise in drop to KRW 306.0 billion—and ASGAM highlighted Seven Luck Gangnam COEX’s strongest “mass table” momentum in two years. Analysts cited expectations of 200,000+ Chinese visitors during the holiday period and rising visa applications (Nov–Jan) as near-term catalysts—while noting the usual post-holiday normalization risk.
