Seoul casinos under “Level 4” social distancing rules until August 9

Authorities in Seoul have announced the city will retain “Level 4” social distancing rules until at least August 9.

South Korea.- Authorities have announced that Seoul will remain under “Level 4” social distancing rules until August 9. Casinos have a maximum daily capacity of no more than 30 per cent of their pre-pandemic norm and must close by 10pm.

The Ministry of Health has reported 1,318 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. According to Reuters, that’s the highest since December. Just 10 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated, while only 30 per cent has received one dose.

Grand Korea Leisure (GKL), operator of the Seven Luck Casino Millennium Seoul and Seven Luck Seoul Gangnam, reported casino sales of KRW40.29m in the first half of the year, down 69.7 per cent when compared to 2020.

GKL venues in Seoul reopened in March at 20 per cent of normal capacity after being closed since November 24. The company saw casino sales fall by 62.4 per cent year-on-year to KRW184.46bn in 2020.

Paradise Co reported that sales fell 7.1 per cent in the first quarter of the year to KRW96.6bn. Casino sales came in at KRW96.6bn, down 31.1 per cent sequentially and 51.6 per cent year-on-year.

The casino operator recently reported a Covid-19 case at its hotel but said the country’s quarantine authority had said there was “no problem” in terms of ongoing use of the hotel accommodation and the resort as of Sunday afternoon.

Kangwon Land, the only casino resort in South Korea permitted to serve locals, will maintain its current daily 1,800-guest maximum capacity under an “exception clause.”