Content Writer: Janice Chew • Thursday, 26/01/2026 - 11:37:08 - AM
South Korea’s foreigner-only casino operator Grand Korea Leisure has reported a sharp rise in profitability for 2025, with net profit jumping 42.4% year-on-year, driven largely by a sustained rebound in overseas customer volumes. The performance reflects improving inbound tourism trends and stronger mass-market play as international travel flows across Northeast Asia continue to normalize.
The company benefited from increased visitation from key feeder markets including Japan, China and Southeast Asia, translating into higher table drop and improved gaming yields across its casino portfolio. Analysts note that foreigner-only casinos in South Korea are particularly leveraged to tourism cycles, making them direct beneficiaries of rising flight capacity, relaxed travel friction and renewed consumer confidence among regional travellers.
Operationally, margin expansion was supported not only by higher volumes but also by better cost discipline compared with the post-pandemic recovery phase. With fixed costs already absorbed in prior periods, incremental gaming revenue flowed more efficiently to the bottom line. This dynamic highlights how operators like GKL can deliver outsized earnings growth during periods of demand recovery, even without significant increases in capacity.
From a strategic perspective, the results reinforce South Korea’s positioning as a stable, regulated gaming destination for international visitors. While competition from regional gaming hubs remains intense, South Korea’s combination of urban entertainment, cultural tourism and integrated hospitality offerings continues to resonate with short-haul travellers seeking premium but familiar experiences.
Looking ahead, industry observers expect overseas customer growth to remain a key earnings driver for GKL, although the pace of expansion may moderate as comparisons become tougher. Continued investment in customer experience, marketing partnerships and cross-border tourism promotion will be critical to sustaining momentum. Nonetheless, the 2025 performance underscores how closely gaming revenue growth remains tied to broader regional travel and tourism recovery trends.