South Korea’s government has unveiled a massive expansion of its Kangwon Land casino resort. The state-owned property will be remodeled to triple the area of its casino floor, allowing it to welcome more guests.

The Kangwon Land gaming area, which covers 167,000 square feet currently, will be expanded to cover approximately 533,000 square feet. In addition to that, the $1.85 billion expansion will see a new hotel and a new convention space constructed, allowing Kangwon Land to accommodate more visitors and host international gatherings.

The expansion will also include the creation of a new wellness center in the nearby forest, as well as the launch of new local attractions.

The expansion comes as more Asian countries rise to challenge South Korea’s casino industry. Kangwon Land and the country’s foreigner-only casinos enjoyed a period of calm during the temporary decline of Macau gaming and the crackdown on the special administrative region’s junket operators. However, Japan’s upcoming resort and Thailand’s desire to launch casino gaming are likely to cause fiercer competition.

South Korea Is Wary of Japan’s Upcoming Integrated Resort

Situated in its namesake Kangwon Province, Kangwon Land is the only casino in South Korea that accepts local players. The property boasts some 1,000 slots and 100 gaming tables, allowing hundreds of players to enjoy gambling at the same time. In addition, Kangwon Land has some 700 hotel rooms for guests. Despite that, finding a seat has been increasingly difficult the last few years.

While Kangwon Land, originally founded in 1998, is the only casino in South Korea that locals can visit, the launch of MGM Resorts’ resort in Osaka will likely upset the power balance. Considering Japan’s proximity to Korea, local customers might be tempted to visit the Osaka casino instead.

The expansion of Kangwon Land is, according to the government, a precautionary measure that seeks to ensure the property’s appeal to local consumers. Since MGM’s resort in Japan will not open earlier than 2029, the South Korean operator has ample time to reinforce its offering.

Still, the renovations envisioned by the government are also likely to take several years. Because of that, until the construction of the extra facilities starts, the government will open a temporary expanded casino.

 The $1.85 billion investment is notably the largest investment in the property since its opening.

In addition to casinos in other Asian countries, Kangwon Land will also have to compete with the Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort which recently onboarded new solutions that will allow it to understand guests at an individual level.

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Leading investment firm with an interest in the iGaming vertical, HappyHour.io, has announced a new strategic investment in state-of-the-art, artificial intelligence-based cashier and digital wallet solution, Fluid. 

In May, the same gaming investor announced an important investment in Betty.ca, an Ontario-based online casino brand looking to strengthen its position in its home market while penetrating new North American markets.

Revolutionizing Digital Payments in the iGaming Industry

By investing in the supplier of innovative payment technology that offers seamless integration to operators’ platforms and customized user experiences via artificial intelligence, HappyHour will further help Fluid hit the gas pedal in terms of growth and expansion. 

Fluid’s declared goal is to completely change how digital payments are perceived by offering a “next-generation digital wallet designed to improve conversion, reduce fraud,” and delight customers starting with the iGaming vertical. 

Accordingly, the promising startup is already doing a good job at harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence to generate individualized user experiences which include flawless integration with operators’ brand identity and distribution of anti-fraud mechanisms for clients. 

The latter works proactively by identifying and stopping suspicious activities while making sure that operators and users alike can complete their transactions in a safe environment with the utmost confidence that they are well protected.

“A Catalyst for Innovation and Growth”

Fluid’s chief executive officer, Roberto Rubio, took the opportunity to express enthusiasm regarding the newly inked agreement, explaining that HappyHour’s investment in Fluid has represented “a catalyst for innovation and growth.”

Rubio also praised HappyHours’ “deep industry knowledge” mixed together with their strategic guidance and support, all of which have proven to be essential in empowering Fluid to redefine the way digital transactions occur in the gaming world. 

The CEO called the HappyHours team “more than just investors,” describing them as trusted partners sharing their own vision and devotion to generate the ultimate experiences for users.

At the same time, HappyHour’s managing partner, Robin Reed, used a similar statement to express their pride to be “a part of this journey” next to Fluid, a company that he called “poised to raise the bar” for what the world expects from for a solid digital wallet and cashier solution.

Reed also spoke about Fluid’s ability to create fully user-centric experiences while establishing fresh benchmarks in terms of safety and efficiency. 

Delivered as a web component, Fluid offers in-depth user tracking and relies on advanced machine learning models that can effectively spot and counter fraudulent activities.

Earlier in the year, in June, HappyHour announced it would strengthen its C-suite by appointing Ben Clemes as its new investment portfolio partner. 

The company also took the opportunity to make it known that, from his new position based in San Francisco, Clemens would be responsible for helping the company extend its connections with a variety of startups belonging to the gambling vertical. 

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The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma’s latest press release revealed some of its plans regarding the new project, including its approximate location. Onboarding Caesars as a management partner will add much-needed expertise, while the Harrah’s brand will substantially bolster the new venue’s appeal. The partnership builds on Caesars Entertainment’s relationship with US tribes and should significantly benefit both parties.

Details about the New Project Are Still Scarce

Little is yet known regarding the Iowa Tribe’s newest integrated resort project. The initial press release places the venue somewhere off Interstate 44. Given the Iowa Tribe’s reservation boundaries, that would put the casino resort between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. While the tribe did not announce a start date for construction, Caesars’ involvement should significantly speed up the process.

The leading casino operator was a natural choice for the Iowa Tribe thanks to its history of successful partnerships with US tribes. Recently, the company expressed its intention to partner with tribes in Maine, hopefully overcoming the region’s inhospitable business environment. Compared to that, cooperating on a new integrated resort in a developed market should not pose a challenge.

Both Parties Were Excited to Bolster Oklahoma Gaming

The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma currently runs two properties- Cimarron Casino and Ioway Casino. A new property under the Harrah’s brand should bring significant long-term returns, providing guests with a world-class experience. Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Chairman Perri Ahhaitty lauded the operator’s contributions to tribal gaming and expressed confidence in the new venue’s future success.

We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Caesars and the local community with the brand-new Harrah’s right here in Oklahoma.

Perri Ahhaitty, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Chairman

If successful, the new casino will be a significant boon to the tribe, providing much-needed employment opportunities and bolstering the resources available to local communities. Caesars Entertainment SVP of Development Robert Livingston was proud to partner with the Iowa Tribe and help them achieve their objectives. The move should also be a significant boon to the operator, extending its reach into the Sooner State.

With properties throughout the Midwest, Harrah’s is the perfect brand fit for Oklahoma.

Robert Livingston, Caesars Entertainment SVP of Development

Such partnerships form the cornerstone of Caesars’ growth strategy. While such aggressive expansion has incurred substantial financial debt, the operator’s Q1 report indicates strong investment returns. The upcoming Harrah’s casino in Oklahoma should be no exception, building on the company’s success and strengthening its relationship with local tribes.

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Zeal Ventures, one of the biggest investors in the lottery space, has provided the British studio startup Circl Gaming with an investment. While the size of the investment wasn’t disclosed by the two companies, it marks the start of a friendly partnership between the two parties.

As announced, Zeal Ventures will leverage its market experience to provide its new ally with counsel on all the important aspects of the gaming markets. The investor will tip Circl Gaming on regulatory matters, business strategy, marketing and optimization.

Zeal trusts Circl Gaming’s vision for a social betting experience, as attested by Dirk Reiche, Zeal Ventures’ investment director, who lauded Circl as a true visionary. Reiche noted that the gaming industry is now moving faster than ever and has produced a number of innovators like Circl.

According to the director, it is important to nurture such companies and augment the gaming market. Because of that, he is looking forward to working with Circl and advising the company on how to improve and diversify the gaming and entertainment space.

Circl Is Happy to Have Zeal’s Backing

Circl Gaming’s chief technology officer, Mark Quinn, also commented on the partnership with Zeal Ventures, calling it “a huge step forward” toward his team’s ambition to become an international company.

Quinn emphasized that the founders of Circl are thrilled to join forces with Zeal, a company that has extensive experience in the lottery and gaming sectors. The CTO added that this expertise would be invaluable to his team as Circl continues to roll out new products.

The support they will bring is not just financial, it will help with every pillar of our business.

Mark Quinn, CTO, Circl Gaming

Circl develops socially-charged gaming experiences. According to its description, it offers a live-action sports game, for its customers and their mates. It allows English Premier League aficionados to test their predictive ability while challenging their friends.

Circl players can give predict the outcomes of micro-events during Premier League games. The best Circl players can win exciting cash prizes and prove that they are the most knowledgeable soccer fans to their friends.

At first, Circl was a game meant to be enjoyed by small circles of friends (thus its name). However, now Circl offers exciting multiplayer experiences where people can play against other sports fans in the United Kingdom.

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