Casinos in South Korea extend Covid-19 closures

Grand Korea Leisure and Kangwon Land have extended their closures due to government measures.

South Korea.- Casinos have extended lockdown measures into December after the government increased its level of alert due to an increase in Covid-19 cases.

In the capital city of Seoul, the level of alert was increased to 2.5, while in other cities such as Busan it remains at level 2. Bars and gyms have been forced to shut down.

Althogh there are no specific measures for casinos, Grand Korea Leisure, subsidiary of the Korea Tourism Organization, has extended the closure of its casinos in both cities.

Gangnam Coex Seoul and Gangbuk Millennium Seoul Hilton were to remain closed until December 8 and Busan Lotte until December 15. The foreigner-only casinos will remain closed until December 29. The firm expects the decision to cost KRW13.6bn (US$12.5m)

Kangwon Land, the only casino in South Korea where locals can legally gamble, also decided to close its venue in Jeongseon, which is also at level of alert 2. A date for reopening has not been set. The company expects the move to result in daily losses of KRW1bn ($921,506).