Grand Korea Leisure (GKL), South Korea’s prominent foreigner-only casino operator, has announced impressive financial results for April 2026. The operator, known for its Seven Luck-branded casinos, reported a remarkable increase in overall casino sales, rising by 11.1% year-on-year to KRW40.2 billion (approximately US$27.6 million). This growth was even more pronounced compared to March, with casino sales soaring by 25.7%.

Strong Growth in Table Game Sales

The April figures highlight a notable surge in table game sales, which rose by 12.7% year-on-year and 30.2% month-on-month, reaching KRW37.02 billion (US$25.4 million). These results underscore the increasing popularity of traditional table games across GKL’s casinos. However, the company did experience a slight dip in gaming machine sales, which fell by 4.6% year-on-year to KRW3.16 billion (US$2.2 million). Machine sales were also down 10.6% compared to March.

Despite the decline in gaming machine revenue, GKL’s strong performance in table games more than offset the loss, marking another successful month for the operator.

Breaking down the sales by location, GKL’s Seoul Gangnam casino was the top performer, contributing nearly KRW23.88 billion to the total revenue, a staggering 58.8% increase from March and a 40% rise from the same month last year. The venue’s continued dominance underscores its vital role in GKL’s overall success.

Meanwhile, the Busan Lotte casino also showed strong growth, with sales rising 28.9% from March and 12.3% year-on-year, reaching KRW6.23 billion. In contrast, the Seoul Dragon City casino saw a dip in April’s results, with sales decreasing by 6.8% from March, although year-on-year figures showed a decline of 25.6%.

Positive Year-to-Date Performance

In total, GKL’s casino sales for the first four months of 2026 amounted to KRW146.84 billion (US$101 million), reflecting a 1.7% increase over the same period in 2025, according to Inside Asian Gaming. The company’s continued growth was primarily driven by the strong performance of table games and a steady recovery in some locations.

The group’s casino drop, a key metric representing the amount customers pay to purchase gaming chips, totaled KRW346.67 billion in April, an impressive 20.5% increase from the previous year and a modest 1.9% rise from March. Over the first four months of 2026, the cumulative casino drop reached KRW1.28 trillion, reflecting a 14.6% increase compared to 2025.

Looking forward, GKL’s management remains optimistic about its continued growth, particularly in the highly competitive South Korean casino market. As the company looks to expand its operations and improve its gaming offerings, the key to its success will be maintaining the strength of its core locations, especially in Seoul, while also capitalizing on the emerging opportunities in other markets like Busan.

With a solid foundation and strong operational results, GKL is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory throughout 2026. The company remains committed to providing exceptional gaming experiences for its foreigner-only clientele and ensuring its casinos remain a cornerstone of South Korea’s tourism and entertainment sectors.