GKL casino sales hit US$25m in December, down 6.4%
Casino sales at Grand Korea Leisure declined in December 2025, reflecting a slower end to the year for South Korea’s state-backed foreigner-only casino operator, even as full-year performance remained positive.
According to a filing with the Korea Exchange, GKL reported December casino sales of KRW36.30 billion (US$25.1 million), down 6.4 percent year-on-year and 13.0 percent lower than November. The month-on-month decline points to a degree of seasonal softness rather than a structural change in demand, particularly given the company’s stronger performance earlier in the year.
Table games continued to dominate GKL’s revenue mix but were also the main driver of December’s decline. Table-game sales for the month totalled KRW33.07 billion, representing a 7.4 percent decrease compared with December 2024 and a 13.8 percent drop from November. By contrast, machine-game revenue offered some stability on an annual basis. Slot sales reached KRW3.23 billion, up 5.6 percent year-on-year, although still 4.1 percent lower month-on-month.
GKL operates three Seven Luck-branded foreigner-only casinos, with two locations in Seoul, including Gangnam, and a third in the port city of Busan. The company is a subsidiary of the Korea Tourism Organization, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Despite the weaker December result, underlying indicators for the year remained constructive. Aggregate casino drop across GKL’s three properties reached KRW330.37 billion in December, up 19.8 percent year-on-year and slightly higher than November levels. For the full year, casino drop totalled approximately KRW3.70 trillion, representing a 1.5 percent increase compared with 2024.
Full-year casino sales for 2025 exceeded KRW425.3 billion, marking an 8.0 percent increase year-on-year. The Seoul Gangnam casino was the largest contributor to group revenue, generating nearly KRW205.61 billion in casino sales during the year. Seoul Dragon City followed with just under KRW150.67 billion, while the Busan Lotte property recorded KRW69.05 billion.
As reviewed by iGaming News Today, GKL’s results highlight a familiar pattern for the foreigner-only segment in South Korea. Monthly volatility remains, but the broader annual trend suggests a gradual recovery in international casino demand, even as operators continue to navigate uneven travel flows and seasonal fluctuations.
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