Casinos in Korea Casinos in South Korea
South Korea has 17 government-licensed casinos. Of these, 16 are for foreigners only, and Kangwon Land in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province is the only one Korean citizens can legally use. All unlicensed online casinos are illegal.
| English | Casinos in South Korea |
|---|---|
| Classification | Licenses & Regulation |
| Legal casinos | 17 |
| Foreigners only | 16 (Tourism Promotion Act) |
| Open to Korean citizens | 1 (Kangwon Land, Special Act on Abandoned Mine Areas) |
| Licensing | Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism |
| Oversight | Korea Speculative Industry Supervisory Committee |
| Main operators | Kangwon Land, Grand Korea Leisure (Seven Luck), Paradise, and others |
| Online casinos | No licensing system (illegal) |
Overview
In Korea, casinos are a business the government licenses strictly. There are 17 legal casinos licensed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, of which 16 are foreigner-only and only 1 (Kangwon Land) admits Korean nationals as well. Foreigner-only casinos admit you only after your passport confirms you are a foreigner.
The Korea Gaming Industry Supervisory Commission manages total revenue and soundness across the gambling-related industry.
Two types of casinos
| Category | Foreigner-only casinos | Kangwon Land |
|---|---|---|
| Number | 16 locations | 1 location |
| Legal basis | Tourism Promotion Act | Special Act on Support for Development of Abandoned Mining Areas |
| Entry | Foreigners only (passport check) | Korean nationals and foreigners |
| Purpose | Attracting foreign tourists and earning foreign currency | Economic recovery of former mining regions hit by the decline of the coal industry |
| Location | Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Jeju, etc. | Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province |
Kangwon Land
Kangwon Land was established under a special law enacted in 1995 to revive the coal mining region of Gangwon Province after the coal industry collapsed in the 1990s. It opened as a small casino in 2000 and grew into today’s large casino along with its hotel and resort.
Because Korean nationals use it, it is more strictly regulated than other casinos. There are measures such as low table betting limits, limits on the number of visits, limits on operating hours, and a problem gambling counseling center. In 2025, it began a pilot of a “foreigner-only zone” with higher betting limits for foreign tourists.
Foreigner-only casinos
Foreigner-only casinos operate for foreign tourists under the Tourism Promotion Act. They include the “Seven Luck” casinos (Seoul and Busan) run by the state-owned Grand Korea Leisure (GKL), the Paradise Group’s casinos (Paradise City in Incheon, Walkerhill in Seoul, etc.), and several casinos in Jeju. Jeju has the most casinos of any region. You can see the atmosphere of each casino in AI Slot’s hotel casino articles.
Why online casinos are illegal
There is no system in Korea to license online casinos. So whether operated in Korea or holding an overseas license (Curacao, etc.), any online casino aimed at Korean users is illegal. Not only operators but also users can be punished, and it is hard to get legal protection even if you lose your money.
- An overseas license is only a permit by that country’s standards and does not mean it is legal in Korea.
- You cannot judge legality from ad phrases like “officially licensed” or “no scams.”
- The free slot demos offered by providers are experiences that involve no money.
Where to get help
If you are struggling because of gambling, you can get counseling at the Korea Center on Gambling Problems hotline, 1336 (24 hours). You can find methods for managing money and time in bankroll management and responsible gambling terms.
Location
Kangwon Land, the only casino open to Korean citizens, is in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province.