China Urges South Korea To Rein In Casino Marketing Aimed At Chinese Tourists

China’s embassy in Seoul has called on South Korean authorities to tighten oversight of casino operators and stop gambling solicitation directed at Chinese tourists, according to a report published on Monday by The Korea Times. The move comes as South Korea’s foreigner-only casino sector has been receiving renewed attention from the recovery in Chinese arrivals.

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Embassy Objects To Targeted Promotion

According to the newspaper report, Tang Liang, the consul for consular affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, wrote a letter in which he condemned casino marketing directed at Chinese tourists. In his letter, Tang stated that the embassy was deeply shocked at the suggestion that South Korean casinos should have Chinese tourists as their target customers, adding that the embassy was against such efforts.

It was also stated in the letter that, according to the laws of China, there is a zero tolerance for gambling and gambling activities of Chinese citizens in foreign countries. It was also stated that it was totally unacceptable for the casinos of South Korea, called in the letter the Republic of Korea, to conduct targeted marketing and recruiting of foreign nationals, including Chinese people.

The embassy appealed to the South Korean government to fulfill its regulatory functions for tourist establishments, monitor the operations of the casinos, and stop gambling recruitment of Chinese tourists. Tang also said China would increase education for outbound travellers, advising them to exercise restraint and avoid crossing legal boundaries by gambling overseas.

Chinese state-run newspaper Global Times later reported that the embassy had also published Tang’s comments on its official WeChat account.

Response Follows Growth Talk In Korea

The intervention followed recent media and brokerage commentary suggesting that returning Chinese visitors could become an important growth driver for South Korea’s foreigner-only casinos. According to The Korea Times, the industry has enjoyed the recovery of Asian tourist numbers, while brokerage firms have attributed a higher number of Chinese tourists as a possible reason for the growth. 

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South Korea has a total of 17 foreigner-only casinos that depend greatly on tourist numbers. That dependence has made the sector sensitive to changes in regional travel flows, particularly as operators look for stronger inbound tourism to support business performance.

At the same time, the newspaper said casino operators remain cautious about openly identifying Chinese visitors as a target market, given Beijing’s continued crackdown on overseas gambling solicitation. The embassy’s latest message reinforces that sensitivity.

Market Growth Still Bound By Policy Limits

The South Korean casino industry has been watching the recovery in Chinese tourism closely, but the embassy’s comments underline the policy constraints that remain around marketing to that customer base. Although Chinese tourist numbers have been cited as an opportunity by the brokerages, there are diplomatic and legal implications to be considered.

The fact that the embassy responded through public statements shows that the marketing campaigns by casinos in China are being watched carefully. For South Korea’s foreigner-only casino operators, the episode highlights the limits of pursuing growth in one of the region’s most important tourism markets.

The latest exchange leaves the sector balancing commercial opportunity against the need to avoid actions that could be viewed as targeting Chinese nationals in a manner Beijing opposes.

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Source: Asia Gaming Brief