South Korean Casinos And Gambling

South Korean Casinos And Gambling itself is difficult in the country due to legislative restrictions. Citizens should be aware of where and how to gamble. In Korea, there are roughly 23 actual casinos, although only one permits South Korean residents to wager. In South Korea, casinos are designed for visitors, and anyone caught gambling may face harsh penalties.

The legislative environment governing gambling in South Korea is notably stringent. Primarily regulated through the Korean Criminal Code, laws are enforced to deter illegal gambling activities. The Tourism Promotion Law permits casino operations but restricts South Korean citizens from participating, with limited exceptions like the Kangwon Land Casino. This regulatory framework seeks to balance national interests and the ethical concerns around gambling, maintaining a cautious approach towards the industry’s domestic impact.

Online gambling is ALSO strictly prohibited under South Korean law. The reason for this is that South Korean laws do not make a distinction between land based and online gambling.

The nation has enacted strict regulations to control gaming. When they return home, South Koreans who were caught gambling abroad face incarceration. South Koreans can place bets on motorcycle, bicycle, and horse races as well as take part in lotteries.

Legal gambling activities extend beyond just casino gaming. The South Korean government allows legal betting on horse racing through the Korea Racing Authority, as well as cycling and motorboat races. Lottery games are also a popular legal betting option, overseen by the Korea Lottery Commission. These forms of gambling are heavily regulated to ensure ethical play and to prevent potential societal harm.

Can you gamble in South Korea?
In Korea, gambling is considered unlawful, and those who breach the law face severe penalties. Gambling is prohibited both inside and outside of a nation’s borders. There are land-based casinos that solely let visitors use their spaces to gamble.

Foreigner-Only Casinos

The policy of having foreigner-only casinos underscores South Korea’s strategy to attract international tourists while safeguarding its citizens from potential gambling pitfalls. These establishments cater exclusively to tourists, supporting the service sector and creating jobs. This approach allows the country to benefit from tourism revenue without significantly exposing its population to gambling’s social risks.

Paradise Casino Waterfall

www.paradisecasino.co.kr

The Grand Walkerhill Seoul, where Paradise Casino Walkerhill is situated, has a stunning, expansive view of the Han River. Customers can congregate here to take advantage of both the city’s conveniences and nature’s tranquilly. Customers have trusted Paradise Casino Walkerhill ever since it opened in 1968, and its knowledgeable dealers and staff provide the best, most dependable services available. Since 2012, it has increased efforts to better delight clients in order to develop into a top-tier luxury casino as part of the “World’s Best Casino in Service” campaign.

With the best amenities and services, Paradise Casino Walkerhill has given our foreign visitors memories they won’t soon forget. It is undoubtedly the best casino for foreigners solely in Korea.

The hotel is around a 20-minute walk from Incheon International Airport. If you appreciate art, this is a spot where you can see sculptures and other works of art all across the complex, starting in the hotel lobby and surrounded by a lot of greenery.

Several stores have closed as a result of Covid, but other than that, it’s a lively area with cafes and F&B. There is a train in the basement, but it only links to the airport; to get to the city, you must board another train.

In front of the hotel lobby is a lovely fountain/waterfall feature that changes colours at night and has water features performance at a certain time each night. It’s gorgeous! Within the hotel is a casino as well.

Within three minutes’ walk is the Grant Hyatt. One drawback is that there is no direct transportation to Seoul City other than taking the hotel shuttle (15 minutes interval) to the Airport and then taking a train to the City from there, which takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes (cost around 56-60K won)

History of Casinos in South Korea

The development of casinos in South Korea is rooted in the necessity to boost foreign tourism. The first casinos opened in the 1960s, targeting international visitors. Over the decades, this model aimed to elevate South Korea as a leisure destination for tourists, particularly those from neighboring countries. As a result, casinos have predominantly operated within the confines of high-end hotels, promoting a package of luxury, entertainment, and gaming experiences central to South Korea’s tourism strategies.

Seven Luck Casino Gangbuk Hilton

The annual international film festival in Busan, South Korea’s second largest city, has become a global phenomenon and Seven Luck Casino is located in the centre of this charming city and capitalising from the film festivals tourist boom each year.

The casino, one of three owned and run by Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) in the Republic of Korea, is designed in the classic European manner for the pleasure and amusement of international tourists. The other casinos are 7Luck Seoul Hilton and Gangnam 7Luck.

The best hotels and resorts in the world are operated by Lotte Hotels & Resorts, which is also the leading hotel chain in Korea. Every resort facility imaginable is supplied, along with a genuine European-style gaming experience featuring a variety of games like baccarat, roulette, and blackjack.

Everyone, from the entry clerk to the dealers and pit leaders, speak fantastic English and was incredibly polite and helpful. The small game variations, such as the countdown timer that controls when you shuffle the card shoe at the BJ tables, took next to no time to become familiar with. There are many open seats and a reasonable KWN 30,000 minimum bet at the lowest buy-in BJ table. 

When you’re not relaxing in the spa or indulging in great dining at the Lotte Hotel, you can see a movie in one of the theatres in Nampo-dong or Gwangbok-dong or just take in the views of the ocean from Haeundae and Gwangalli.

The Lotte Hotel Busan has 11 venues, ranging in size from a tiny bridal salon to a large ballroom, and was named as Asia’s Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel in 2010.

Economic Impact of Casinos

The economic contribution of the casino industry in South Korea is substantial, supporting tourism and local businesses. Revenues from casinos contribute to the GDP, with taxes collected funding public initiatives. Additionally, the presence of casinos has led to significant infrastructure developments, especially in regions like Jeju Island and Incheon, further stimulating local economies. These financial contributions exemplify the potential economic upside of the controlled expansion of the gambling industry.

Seven Luck Casino Gangnam

The third floor VIP Casino extension of the 2006-opened Seven Luck Casino Seoul Gangnam was finished in 2009. Only foreigners are permitted in the casino, and admittance requires a passport. The building is connected to the COEX shopping Mall, the biggest subterranean shopping centre in Asia. The high-tech amenities and Oriental theme of Seven Luck Casino Gangnam appeal to a wealthy younger crowd. The Millennium Seoul Hilton and Busan Lotte are sister casinos, each with a unique flair.

7Luck is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and provides entertainment in addition to western, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese cuisines. Its convenient location makes it a fantastic starting point for exploring the area’s attractions and shopping. Blackjack, Baccarat, Tai-sai, Roulette, Caribbean Poker, Live action Texas Hold ‘Em, and slot machines are just a few of the casino games available.

The InterContinental Seoul COEX, which offers opulent lodging and a first-rate array of services, is connected to the casino.

Clean air due to non smoking environment, smokers can smoke in smoking room within casino. This is a mini casino, thus it is quite quiet making gambling here is pretty pleasant. Free food provided for visitor who gamble here.

Ramada Plaza Jeju Hotel Casino

Located on the second floor of the Ramada Plaza on Jeju Island, this casino is missing the hordes of tourists who’ll bring life back to any casino be it for roulette or blackjack!

This hotel was able to demonstrate its class. I appreciate how they offer their Muslim customers an Al Quran, a tasbeeh, and a prayer mat. They even offer us a seafood supper as part of their welcome (you can reserve the restaurant first to place the ordered).

This hotel’s interior decor is extremely remarkable. The outside view was breathtaking, and the room was ergonomically arranged.

Head to any of these casinos at 11am on a Saturday and you will find a very pleasant experience with a friendly helpful english speaking staff. Have I missed any? Let me know.