Jeju has turn into a bit just like the Macau of South Korea. As with Macau in China, the island of 634,000 off the nation’s southern coast is without doubt one of the few locations within the nation the place on line casino playing is allowed – and that solely goes for foreigners.
The island boasts a number of casinos catering solely to non-Koreans as most on line casino playing, even whereas overseas, is taken into account unlawful for South Korean residents. And now a majority of islanders appear to have their doubts in regards to the business in their very own yard.
A latest survey discovered that fifty% of Jeju residents believed the casinos had brought about a rise in crime and 51% believed there must be stronger regulation for the business.
An Interesting Casino Environment
Jeju has turn into an Asian on line casino hotspot lately. Even the World Poker Tour has begun internet hosting occasions on the Jeju Shinhwa World on line casino, with the following occasion set for March 28. Triton Poker has additionally held excessive curler occasions on Jeju as properly.
The island’s casinos have catered to rich Chinese gamblers. But not like in Macau, Korean residents can’t gamble within the properties. The nation permits sports activities betting, lottery, and betting on horse races, however these seeking to wager at a on line casino are given just one possibility – the Kangwon Land Casino, situated about 90 miles from Seoul.
The Jeju properties are off limits to South Korean gamblers. At the identical time, the Korean authorities has labored to cater to well-heeled foreigners and develop the business on the island.
Mixed Feelings Among Locals
The island’s casinos are owned and operated by the provincial authorities, and the latest survey notes that not all Jeju residents are fond of the properties.
The report discovered that 52% of respondents stated the casinos had a unfavourable impact on the setting by “creating waste, noise pollution and traffic congestion,” in accordance with the Korean Times. Another 55% believed the business had a unfavourable impact on youngsters and the academic setting.
Despite a few of these emotions, the survey additionally discovered that many acknowledged the casinos’ significance to the island’s financial system. About 40% consider the gaming properties convey in additional overseas vacationers, including to general vacationer {dollars} flowing into the financial system. Also, about 34% consider the casinos assist create jobs for these on the island.
While Jeju continues to see development, Macau not too long ago regained its perch because the world’s prime gaming vacation spot, about twice the dimensions of Las Vegas.