South Korea’s Paradise Co Ltd bounces back in 2016

South Korean casino operator Paradise Co Ltd was back in the black in 2016 following a troubled 2015.

Figures released this week to the Korea Exchange show Paradise’s casino revenue hitting KRW 603.1b (US $509m) in the 12 months ending December 31, 2016. The figure is 6.2% higher than 2015’s total, which was down 14.7% from 2014.

Paradise, the country’s largest foreigners-only casino operator, said the 2016 numbers were goosed by a 7.2% rise in table game revenue to KRW 567.7b, which helped offset a disappointing showing by its electronic gaming machines, which fell 7.3% to KRW 36b. Paradise operates four of the country’s 17 small casinos.

The 2015 total was depressed by a number of factors beyond Paradise’s control, including an infectious disease outbreak that scared off international travelers and Chinese authorities arresting a number of Paradise’s marketing staff for promoting gambling activity to Chinese citizens.