Bloomberry Resorts acquires South Korean island, casino operator

Bloomberry Resorts, the operator behind Manila’s Solaire Resort & Casino, has purchased an island and casino operation in South Korea.

On Tuesday, Bloomberry said its Solaire Korea Co Ltd subsidiary had inked a deal to acquire up to a 92% stake in Golden & Luxury Co Ltd, which operates T.H.E. Hotel & Vegas Casino on South Korea’s Jeju island. The island is home to a number of small-scale casinos that are popular with Chinese tourists. Jeju is also the site of Genting Singapore’s in-development Resorts World Jeju integrated resort.

Bloomberry also inked a deal to buy the 21-hectare Silmi island, which is included in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (FEZ). Both deals still need to obtain official government approval. Bloomberry declined to comment on the acquisitions’ costs, saying only that the deals were “subject to performance of several conditions” and specifics would be revealed “once appropriate approvals have been obtained.”

Bloomberry chairman Enrique Razon issued a statement saying his company was “slightly shifting our focus to other destinations.” Razon said this shift would take a few years, but “it is good business to start prospecting, and Korea is a likely choice because of its positive investment climate.”