Kangwon Land Faces Calls to Remove Gaming Restrictions Before MGM Osaka
South Korea – 12 November 2026 – www.zonadeazar.com A community organisation in South Korea has called on the Government to remove or relax revenue and visitation restrictions at Kangwon Land, ahead of growing competition from MGM Osaka in Japan, scheduled to open in 2030.
The request was issued on 9 November 2026 by the Joint Committee for the Revitalisation of Gohan, Sabuk, Nam-myeon and Sindong, representing communities in Gangwon Province.
The organisation argues that existing regulatory limitations undermine the competitiveness of South Korea’s only casino permitted to admit domestic customers.
Community Calls for Removal of Revenue Caps
One of the principal demands concerns the annual revenue limits imposed by the National Gambling Control Commission (NGCC).
South Korea operates a Total Gambling Revenue Cap System, which establishes annual revenue ceilings for the regulated gambling industry.
Kangwon Land receives an annual allocation limiting its potential revenue.
The committee has called for the complete removal or substantial increase of this cap, arguing that current restrictions prevent the resort from competing effectively with other Asian gaming destinations.
According to the organisation, maintaining these limitations could restrict investment needed to transform Kangwon Land into an international integrated resort.
Casino Visits Are Also Restricted
South Korean regulations impose specific restrictions on domestic customers visiting Kangwon Land.
Current requirements include:
- A maximum of 15 casino visits per month.
- Mandatory responsible gambling education for customers exceeding 60 visits annually.
- Restrictions on permitted betting amounts.
- Additional operational controls imposed by the authorities.
The committee believes these measures should be reviewed to enable Kangwon Land to compete more effectively with international casino resorts.
However, the restrictions also form part of South Korea’s established consumer protection framework.
MGM Osaka Creates Competitive Pressure
The scheduled opening of MGM Osaka in 2030 is one of the main reasons behind the committee’s request.
The development will become Japan’s first casino integrated resort and will be accessible to both international visitors and Japanese nationals.
South Korea currently has 17 foreigner-only casinos, alongside Kangwon Land.
The community organisation warns that MGM Osaka could attract international visitors and South Korean customers who currently visit domestic gaming properties.
A study presented in October estimated that South Korea’s casino industry could lose as much as KRW2.32 trillion (US$1.72 billion) in annual gaming expenditure following the Japanese resort’s opening. This is a forecast rather than a confirmed financial impact.
Calls to Reduce Regulatory Overlap
The committee also criticised the involvement of multiple government bodies in supervising Kangwon Land.
Authorities identified included:
- The Ministry of Economy and Finance.
- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
- The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
- The National Gambling Control Commission.
According to the organisation, overlapping regulatory responsibilities complicate investment decisions and the development of new commercial activities.
It therefore called for stronger government coordination and regulatory exemptions to accelerate the resort’s transformation.
Targeting US$3.7 Billion in Annual Revenue
The community proposal envisions transforming Kangwon Land into an international tourism and entertainment destination.
Its stated objective is to achieve annual revenue of KRW5 trillion (approximately US$3.7 billion) through business expansion.
To achieve this target, the committee believes the resort needs to develop new facilities, strengthen tourism services and reduce restrictions affecting casino operations.
It also argues that a more competitive legal gambling offering could help attract demand currently directed towards illegal platforms and overseas casinos.
Kangwon Land’s Importance to Former Mining Communities
Kangwon Land has a longstanding relationship with Gohan, Sabuk, Nam-myeon and Sindong, communities historically associated with coal mining.
In 1995, local residents launched a campaign seeking government support following the economic decline of the coal industry.
Their efforts contributed to legislation designed to encourage the redevelopment of former mining areas.
This process led to Kangwon Land opening in 2000, becoming South Korea’s only casino legally authorised to admit domestic players.
The property has since become an important source of employment, tourism and economic activity for the region.
Communities Warn About Their Economic Future
The organisation argues that competition from MGM Osaka could affect not only Kangwon Land but also communities dependent on its operations.
Its statement warned that maintaining excessively restrictive regulations could undermine one of the region’s principal economic drivers.
The committee also urged Kangwon Land’s new management to present specific measures to improve competitiveness before 2030.
It believes the Government must act in advance to prevent a significant loss of visitors and investment.
Industry Impact and Next Steps
The request reflects increasing competition between Asian casino destinations and integrated resorts.
For Kangwon Land, relaxing existing restrictions could expand opportunities for investment and commercial growth.
However, any regulatory changes would need to balance commercial objectives with policies designed to prevent gambling-related harm.
For now, the South Korean Government has not announced the removal of these limits, meaning the requested changes remain proposals advanced by community representatives.
The upcoming opening of MGM Osaka is intensifying debate over Kangwon Land’s competitiveness and the need to adapt its operating model to preserve economic development in South Korea’s former mining communities.
Editó: @fonta
