Casinos on South Korea’s Jeju island face greater scrutiny

Casinos on South Korea’s Jeju Island will face tougher scrutiny as the local government tries to reduce casino-related crime.

On Sunday, the Korea Times reported that Jeju’s provincial government plans to introduce new legislation seeking greater transparency from the foreigners-only casinos operating on the island. The new legislation, which will take effect in January, revises the government’s previous casino operating guidelines released last June.

South Korea has 16 foreigners-only casinos, fully half of which are small facilities located on Jeju. The island is a popular tourist destination, with a particular attraction for Chinese travelers, but a raft of casino-related crimes involving Chinese visitors has forced the government to impose tighter controls.

Among the new requirements are mandatory increases in the number of security cameras to reduce blind spots in which chicanery might thrive. Permits will be required for anyone wishing to enter restricted areas, including rooms where gaming devices and computers are stored.