GKL to introduce AI-powered self-driving robots in casinos
Grand Korea Leisure has signed a deal with robotics company Robotis.
South Korea.- Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) has signed a deal with robotics firm Robotis to introduce self-driving robots that use artificial intelligence (AI) at its Seven Luck casinos. The casino operator intends to use robots to transport gaming chips and cards around the casinos.
A six-month pilot programme was carried out from September to March at the Seven Luck Casino in Seoul Dragon City.
GKL’s CEO, Yoon Doo-hyun, said, “GKL is accelerating its transition to smart casinos in line with the government’s drive to realise the so-called ‘digital platform government. By adopting AI-powered self-driving robots, we aim to provide a new and differentiated customer experience.”
GKL operates three foreigner-only casinos under the Seven Luck brand. Two are situated in the capital, Seoul, including one in Gangnam, and the other in the southeastern port city of Busan. The company operates as a subsidiary of the Korea Tourism Organization, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
For March, the company posted casino revenue of KRW41.45bn (US$28.3m), up 2.6 per cent in year-on-year terms but down 27.7 per cent compared to the previous month.
Table-game revenue was KRW38.45bn (US$26.2m), up 3 per cent year-on-year and 28.2 per cent sequentially. Machine game sales were KRW3bn (US$2m), down 1.9 per cent year-on-year but up 22 per cent compared to the previous month.
For the first three months of the year, casino sales were up 15.6 per cent in year-on-year terms to KRW108.25bn (US$73.9m). The casino drop was KRW826.864bn (US$564.6m), down 9.7 per cent when compared to last year.
