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Through the first foreigner casino license granted in 19 years, the ‘Inspire Entertainment Resort’ casino recently opened. The casino industry, which is recording its best-ever performance since the endemic phase, continues to perform well despite the fact that major Chinese tourists have not yet returned to pre-COVID levels.

In the case of the casino division of Jeju Dream Tower Complex Resort operated by Lotte Tour Development, last month’s net sales (total sales excluding agent commissions) reached 23.85 billion KRW. This is a 66.3% increase compared to 14.34 billion KRW in the same period last year and also surpasses the previous record of 20.09 billion KRW in net sales set in July last year. GKL (Grand Korea Leisure), which operates Seven Luck, also saw its total casino sales last year rise by 49.8% to 397.35 billion KRW from 265.167 billion KRW the previous year. Paradise also recorded casino sales of 74.531 billion KRW last month, up 54.9% year-on-year.

The casino industry, which has replaced Chinese tourist demand by increasing new VIPs and securing customers from Japan and Singapore, expects to attract more tourists through the recently opened foreigner-only ‘Inspire Casino.’ Inspire Casino features over 150 gaming tables, about 390 slot machines, and a 160-seat electronic table game (ETG) stadium across two floors. It is the largest foreigner casino in Korea.

Munsuhyuk Moon, a dealer working at Inspire Casino, which opened in February this year on Yeongjongdo Island, Incheon, is posing at the casino entrance. [Photo by Inspire Casino]

What is the working environment like for dealers who joined as opening members at this highly anticipated ‘new’ casino? We spoke with Moon Suhyeok, who recently started working as a dealer at Inspire.

- The industry was in a lull for a while due to the impact of COVID-19. Did you originally work as a dealer before moving to Inspire, or is this your first time working as a dealer here?

▲ I originally worked in Jeju but moved to Inspire for a fresh start.

- What made you choose the profession of a dealer?

▲ I used to play sports when I was young, but after an injury, I quit. My mother recommended the job of a ‘casino dealer,’ which sparked my interest. Providing service to customers suited my personality and aptitude, and as I focused on the job, I thought I could find enjoyment within it, so I started.

- How long was the overall training before the opening of Inspire, and what were the main contents of the training?

▲ Dealers underwent two months of training, starting with basic games like baccarat, blackjack, and roulette, and then learning the rules of various other games. Inspire places great emphasis on the Aquae spirit (cooperation, relationship building, welcoming, mutual respect) for high-quality service, so a lot of time was spent mastering this aspect.

The recently opened 'Inspire Entertainment Resort' casino in Yeongjongdo, Incheon.
[Photo by Inspire Entertainment Resort]

- What are the differences between Inspire and other casinos, and from an industry insider’s perspective, what stands out the most?

▲ Having experienced other casinos, I feel that Inspire Casino focuses more on personality and basic attitude rather than academic background or language scores, which are emphasized by other casinos. This leads me to expect that we will provide better service to customers than other casinos. Also, in terms of work, we cooperate and rely on each other, creating a good internal atmosphere.

- Dealers are often portrayed in the media as having a gambler’s temperament and a cool image. What is the daily life or routine of a dealer actually like?

▲ I think movies and dramas tend to exaggerate the image of dealers. For example, they sometimes appear as villains manipulating the game, but in reality, we perform our duties transparently and strive to provide satisfactory service to customers. People might think dealers have a special lifestyle, but we live ordinary lives like regular office workers. After work, I usually exercise or study foreign languages to spend my leisure time.

- Inspire Casino is located on Yeongjong Island in Incheon, which is somewhat far from Seoul or the metropolitan area. How do you manage accommodation?

▲ There is a staff dormitory in Yeongjong Sky City on Yeongjong Island where I live. Shuttle buses run every hour between the dormitory and Inspire, making commuting convenient.

Interior view of Inspire Casino. [Photo by Inspire]

- Domestic casinos currently have strict dress codes and grooming standards for dealers. What are the standards at Inspire?

▲ Since it is a service job, we strive to maintain a neat appearance. Male dealers prefer clean hairstyles that show their eyebrows, and female dealers avoid flashy hair colors, accessories, and nail art. We come to work in casual, comfortable clothes, and wear the provided uniform during work hours.

- Since Inspire Casino is foreigner-only, foreign language skills must be important. Do you make any special efforts to improve your language skills?

▲ I have basic foreign language skills, but I personally feel they are insufficient, so I study Japanese after work. I am also currently working to obtain a certification due to my desire to improve.

- Are you employed on a contract basis or as a regular employee?

▲ In my case, I work as a regular employee dealer.

- Experienced dealers are said to have unique habits or routines. Do you have any habits or routines developed from working as a dealer?

▲ Probably the hand clear. Hand clear means showing that the dealer’s hands are empty, which builds trust with customers and is checked by managers or the surveillance team. It is a natural and very important action for dealers. I developed this habit, and I remember laughing at myself when I went to a cafe, finished my coffee, threw away the trash, and naturally did a hand clear.

- Each casino has different operating rules. Does Inspire require dealers to use their real names?

▲ Inspire currently allows dealers to choose to use English names. Other staff members are also addressed uniformly as ‘English name + nim’ instead of using formal titles.

- After working as a dealer for a long time, some customers might recognize you. Have you had such experiences? If so, do you have any memorable customer stories?

▲ While working as a dealer, I once noticed a customer’s phone wallpaper was a photo of his son in a soccer uniform. I asked, “Does your son play soccer?” which created a connection between us. Since then, he greeted me first and warmly every time we met, which gave me a lot of strength. That was a moment when I truly felt the rewards of working in service.

- Since this is a profession involving games, I’m curious about your hobbies. Are you good at card games or Go-Stop in real life?

▲ Actually, I’m not good at games in real life. My personal hobbies are hiking and fitness, preferring active leisure activities.