Land-based casinos

South Korea's ground industry is strictly divided on the principle of access.

Kangwon Land Casino, located in the mountainous Gangwon Province, is the only place citizens of the Republic of Korea can play.

It operates under state control and serves as an instrument for the regional development of the former coal region.

Visits for residents are limited in time and number, strict registration and self-exclusion systems have been introduced.

The remaining 16-17 casinos in the country are aimed exclusively at foreign tourists.

These establishments, like Paradise City (Incheon), Seven Luck, Walkerhill and Jeju Shinhwa World, combine hotel complexes, conference rooms, duty-free and entertainment areas, operating under the license of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The investment focus is in the development of integrated resorts (IR) aimed at international tourism, in particular from China and Japan.

However, social policy remains unchanged: domestic liberalization is excluded, and the balance between economic benefits and public risks is maintained through strict regulation and transparent control.