Jeju casino revenue hits 646.5 billion won... Talks focus on local partnership and jobs

【Financial News, Jeju = Reporter Jeong Yong-bok】 Jeju’s foreigner-only casinos recorded revenue of 646.5 billion won last year, a record high. Amid that growth, international policy discussions will be held on how to channel the industry’s gains into the local economy and jobs. A job fair involving six casino operators will also be held, with links to the tourism industry and ways to expand local employment among the main topics.
According to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on the 18th, the 2026 10th Jeju International Casino Policy Forum will be held on Nov. 9–10 at Center 1 of the Jeju International Convention Center in Seogwipo. It is hosted by Jeju Province and organized by the Jeju Casino Business Supervisory Committee and the Jeju International Convention Center.
The forum will be held under the theme “A New Decade for Jeju Casinos: The Future and Challenges of Jeju’s Casino Industry.” Around 300 people, including experts from Korea and abroad, industry representatives and civic groups, are expected to attend.
The discussions come against the backdrop of steep growth in casino industry revenue. According to Jeju Province, the eight foreigner-only casinos in the province recorded revenue of 646.5 billion won in 2025, up 40.8% from 458.9 billion won the previous year. The number of visitors also rose 37.8%, from 662,976 to 913,890.
As revenue increased, contributions to the Jeju Tourism Promotion Fund rose 43.8%, from 43.1 billion won in 2024 to 62 billion won last year. Casino operators pay a certain percentage of their revenue into the fund, which is used to develop the tourism industry and expand tourism infrastructure, among other purposes.

As casino revenue and tourism funding both grow, a key challenge is how much of the industry’s growth can translate into local jobs, revenue for tourism businesses and contributions to the community.
The forum will address three topics: local partnership, links with the integrated tourism industry, and changes in artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
The first session will discuss the casino industry’s contribution to the regional economy and ways to foster local partnership. Shin Wang-geun, a professor at Jeju Tourism University, will chair the session, and Choi Young-bae, a professor at Kyung Hee University, will give a presentation on the topic. Representatives of the Jeju Residents’ Self-Governance Solidarity, the Tourism Labor Union, the casino industry and the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute are among those expected to join the discussion.
The second session will explore opportunities to link casinos with the tourism, culture and entertainment industries. Seo Won-seok, president of the Korean Tourism Sciences Society, will chair the session, while officials from Nevada’s casino regulatory agency and Japanese academics will introduce policy experience from their respective countries.
The third session will examine the impact of AI technology on casino operations and the industry environment. Representatives of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), GLI, a U.S.-based casino testing and certification organization, and domestic public corporations are expected to discuss policy responses to technological change.

Jeon Byeong-geuk, a former First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will deliver the keynote address. Moon Seong-jong, chair of the Jeju Casino Business Supervisory Committee, will assess the past 10 years of the Jeju International Casino Policy Forum and outline future policy directions.
A job fair involving six casino operators in the province will also be held during the event. The program will connect companies with job seekers, linking growth in the casino industry with local employment.
The event will also feature an exhibition of casino gaming equipment by Kangwon Land, demonstrations at gaming tables and an exhibition of winning entries from Jeju’s tourism souvenir competition. A virtual reality experience featuring urban air mobility (UAM) and an information booth for the Jeju Gambling Problem Prevention and Healing Center will also be set up, addressing changes in the tourism industry and the social responsibility of the gambling industry.
The Jeju International Casino Policy Forum began in 2016 and had been held nine times by the end of last year. Around 2,150 people from 10 countries, including the United States, Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, have taken part. Applications to attend this year’s forum are being accepted on the official website through Nov. 4.
“The global casino industry is undergoing rapid change driven by technological innovation and the transition to AI,” said Hwang Gyeong-seon, director-general of Jeju Province’s Tourism and Exchange Bureau. “I hope this forum will discuss ways to foster local partnership, including links with the tourism industry, and expand international exchanges.”


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