Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JUL 2021年7月 亞博匯 94 10 YEARS AGO H indsight is a wonderful thing. It was 10 years ago this month that Inside Asian Gaming reported murmurings from South Korea that authorities were looking to open up the country’s gaming market both domestically and internationally. On the domestic level, it had been suggested that South Korea’s slate of foreigner-only casinos might be opened up to local players, with the Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism stating, “I will look for ways to allow locals to enter casinos. I’m not sure if I will be able to accomplish this during my term but I will push ahead with the project.” Fast forward a decade and Kangwon Land, opened in October 2000, remains the only casino in South Korea at which locals are allowed to gamble: a devastating blow to the 16 foreigner-only casinos currently flailing as the COVID-19 pandemic prevents any significant international travel. There was one other proposal on the cards in July 2011 that did see the light of day, however.