China urges South Korea to curb casino marketing targeting Chinese tourists
Chinese Embassy rejects claims that Chinese visitors should drive South Korea’s casino growth, calling for stricter oversight of operators and an end to gambling solicitation.
South Korea.- China has urged South Korea to strengthen oversight of its casino industry and to stop marketing gambling to Chinese tourists. In a statement published by the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, Consular Affairs Counsellor Tang Liang criticised suggestions that Chinese tourists should become the primary customer base for South Korea’s casino sector, stressing that the country maintains a zero-tolerance policy on gambling and noting that it’s illegal for Chinese citizens to gamble overseas.
The embassy argued that targeted casino marketing aimed at Chinese visitors was inconsistent with the two countries’ agreements to promote tourism and people-to-people exchanges. It urged Seoul to regulate casino operations more closely and to end gambling recruitment directed at Chinese tourists.
The issue comes as South Korea’s 17 foreigner-only casinos benefit from a recovery of inbound tourism. While Chinese visitors are widely regarded as one of the most important customer groups, operators have generally avoided publicly identifying them as their primary market due to Beijing’s stance on overseas gambling. Under Chinese law, organising or encouraging Chinese citizens to gamble abroad can lead to criminal penalties.
