South Korea lottery sales up 10.3% in 2021

The Korea Lottery Commission has reported that lottery sales rose by10.3 per cent last year, setting a new record.

South Korea.- The Korea Lottery Commission has shared its financial results for the year 2021, reporting record lottery sales of KRW5.98tn (US$5.02bn), up 10.3 per cent year-on-year from KRW5.42tn in 2020. Sales of online lottery tickets were up 8.4 per cent to KRW5.14tn while sales of pension-type tickets were up 29.2 per cent to KRW291.1bn.

According to Yonhap News Agency, lotto accounted for 42.1 per cent of all lottery tickets in 2020, up from 21.2 per cent in 2020. For the first half of 2021, the Korea Lottery Commission had reported record lottery sales of US$2.5bn, up 12.6 per cent year-on-year. That period saw a surge in pension-type lotteries that pay winners with annuities. Sales of these reached KRW142.2bn, an increase of 66.4 per cent and the largest year-on-year H1 increase since this type of lottery ticket was launched in 2012.

South Korea strengthens Covid-19 countermeasures in casinos

South Korean authorities have strengthened countermeasures due to increased fears around the Omicrón variant of Covid-19. Entertainment venues including casinos have been ordered to operate at a limited capacity and with social distancing measures for at least three weeks. Casinos must close at 10pm.

Last December, casinos in Jeju started to require proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative test result for admission. Casino capacity continues to be limited to 50 per cent in Jeju, a measure that was implemented from November 1, 2021. However, there are currently no restrictions on opening hours at Jeju Island Casinos.