Mohegan Inspire in South Korea holds first-phase soft opening

The 1,275-room hotel and 15,000-seat Inspire Arena, two of the non-gaming attractions of the Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort in South Korea, have opened for business.

The resort intends to build a casino for foreigners only in the first quarter of next year, according to Chen Si, the property president. It is projected that the casino will include 700 slot machines, 150 table games, and electronic table games.

Si said that it would take four to six quarters for the casino to fully ramp up, which may happen as late as 2024. The resort’s promoter, Mohegan Gaming, plans to have a soft opening for non-gaming for two to three months before opening the casino. Inspire’s hotel must have a five-star rating in order for the casino licensing application to be approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in South Korea. This is in accordance with the guidelines of the South Korean Tourism Promotion Act.

Dealer-level employees have been hired by Inspire, and more hires are probably forthcoming. The resort has hired 1,113 workers so far, and plans call for hiring 3,000 more after Phase 1a is finished in the second quarter of 2024. Discussions over Phase 1b amenities are now ongoing, with the aim of including more facilities to boost Incheon’s tourism attractiveness. Mohegan is committed to pursuing Phase 1b development, and discussions are now taking place with potential investors, business partners, and the South Korean government. The resort plans to release a comprehensive Phase 1b business concept and strategy around a year after the casino opens.

It would be a long time until the project is finished, Si said, with Osaka authorities estimating a start date in the next decade. This is in reference to potential competition from Japan’s first casino resort located in Osaka.

Original story by: GGRAsia