U.S.-based integrated resort company Mohegan opened a foreigners-only casino at Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort in Incheon on Saturday, February 3, the company said in a statement on Friday. It is the first foreigners-only casino license granted in Korea in almost two decades1.
The resort, wholly owned by Mohegan, received its casino business license from the Korean government in January, after the company invested $1.6 billion in the first-phase development project1. The property sits near Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, and the company said it expects the location to draw from Asian cities within a four-hour flight, including Tokyo, Beijing, Taiwan and Hong Kong1. The rest of the resort is set to fully open in mid-20241.
The casino floor is the country's biggest gambling house, with 150 gaming tables, 390 slot machines and a 160-seat electronic table games stadium across two floors1. Mohegan Chief Executive Ray Pineault said:
"This ambitious project is a testament to Mohegan's commitment to excellence, marking a major milestone in our growth as a preeminent owner and developer of integrated entertainment resorts."
The previous first license went to Grand Korea Leisure's casino facility in January 2006, according to the Korea Casino Association1. Korea now has 16 foreigners-only casinos across the country, plus Kangwon Land Casino, the only casino that also admits Koreans1.
What it means for players
The new Inspire Casino Incheon is a foreigners-only venue, so entry rules follow the same pattern as Korea's other 15 foreigners-only casinos: Korean nationals are not admitted, while foreign visitors and residents can enter with a passport. The one exception in the country remains Kangwon Land Casino, which is open to Koreans as well1. For a fuller picture of who can enter which property, see Can Foreigners Gamble in South Korea? and Which Asian Casinos Bar Local Citizens?.
The location near Incheon International Airport puts the casino in the same area as existing foreigner-only properties, and the resort's size, 150 tables and 390 slots, makes it the largest such floor in the country1. Details of table minimums, game mix and opening hours have not been reported. For the games typically offered in Korean casinos, see What Games You Can Play in Korean Casinos.
What happens next
Mohegan said it plans to fast-track growth by progressively opening the remainder of the resort's facilities by the middle of this year1. No further licensing or regulatory steps were reported.
