GKL’s Twin Pathways: Venue Refreshment & AI – A New Chapter Begins

South Korea’s in-city casino operator GKL is at a strategic crossroads. On one hand it has physical venues that require renewal and refreshing, on the other it has an opportunity to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) to reshape its business model. According to statements by CEO Yoon Doo‑hyun in a recent interview, the company is actively pursuing both tracks.

First, the venue refreshment agenda. GKL is keeping an eye on major redevelopment zones— notably a port redevelopment in the city of Busan — as a chance to upgrade its bricks-and-mortar presence. CEO Yoon emphasised that to stay competitive in the tourism-and-gaming market, GKL must refurbish or reinvent its venue footprint rather than relying on past designs. 

Second, AI is being elevated from an internal cost-tool to a strategic axis for growth. GKL has reportedly launched or is planning to launch an “AI innovation team” whose remit covers guest experience optimisation, operational efficiencies, predictive analytics and more. This signals a shift from “casino operator” to “tourism platform” mindset, which Yoon explicitly mentioned as the medium-term ambition. 

Why these two pillars matter: The regional gaming and tourism environment is shifting rapidly. New integrated resorts and changing travel behaviours mean that legacy venues may under-perform unless they modernise. Meanwhile, AI offers the promise of driving not just efficiency but new revenue streams — personalised experiences, better data-driven marketing, even new non-gaming services anchored in tourism. In his comments, Yoon framed the company as evolving into an “in-city tourism platform company”. 

Of course, operationalising these ambitions is non-trivial. Venue refreshment requires capital, planning, regulatory alignment and market timing. The AI journey requires data maturity, systems integration, talent and a culture shift. But the fact that GKL is publicly signalling both gives stakeholders a clearer roadmap.

For stakeholders — from investors to tourism policymakers — the dual strategy suggests GKL is preparing not only for growth but for resilience. Physical venues refreshed keep the tangible draw for visitors; AI-capabilities underpin differentiation in a competitive market.