On November 30, U.S. tribal gaming giant Mohegan Gaming launched its long-awaited South Korean integrated resort (IR), Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, in Incheon.
For the soft opening, non-gaming amenities were front and center, including the hotel, meeting facilities, restaurants and a concert venue, the Inspire Arena.
The property’s foreigners-only casino and retail facilities will open in early 2024, with other attractions to roll out during the first half of the year.
“We always anticipated the casino license would come after other facilities were in place,” said Ray Pineault, president and CEO of Mohegan Gaming, in an interview with the New London Day. “We have to get five-star ratings on the hotels before the government will issue the license.”
In a statement, James Gessner Jr., chairman of the Connecticut-based Mohegan Tribe and the Mohegan Management Board, called the opening “a momentous occasion for Mohegan, marking both a historic partnership for our tribe and a new echelon for our system of premier integrated entertainment resorts around the world.”
According to Inside Asian Gaming, the opening showcased three hotel towers with 1,275 rooms; meeting and convention facilities; the largest ballroom in Korea; 10-plus restaurants, including a Michael Jordan Steakhouse; and a “state-of-the-art digital entertainment street” called Aurora. The kickoff also showcased the glass-domed indoor water park called Splash Bay.
Inspire President Chen Si told GGRAsia that the gaming floor might open by the Lunar New Year in February. Until then, “Our building has a number of non-casino amenities for revenue,” he said. “The hotel towers, convention hall and arena are the cornerstones in Phase 1,” which represents an investment of $1.55 billion of a total $5 billion.
Si said the resort is “mainly aimed at Koreans first,” but for non-gaming attractions only. The casino will target international visitors, especially Asian gamblers.
Chinese and Japanese travelers are “already showing interest in the venue,” Si said, and a December 2 K-pop event was expected to draw 12,000 attendees. “We use social media in South Korea, China, and Japan online,” including “37,000 followers on our Instagram account,” to promote events, Si noted. He said the IR will rely on “non-gaming amenities to drive foreigner stays and participation.
“The Mohegan tribe wants to share their culture with the world, and Inspire Korea is a big step towards making ‘Aquai’ known,” he added. “Aquai” is the Mohegan word for “greeting.”
Inspire will cooperate with Incheon’s first casino, Paradise City, to build more business for both. “We understand the value of a clustering effect, and Paradise City understands that as well. So we will continue to explore other ways we can work together to create that, and really raise Incheon’s profile as a gaming destination.” The IR now employs more than 1,100 people, and will ultimately need 3,000 staffers.
Inspire is located near Incheon International Airport, “the gateway to Seoul,” in Yeongjong-do, South Korea. It’s the eighth Mohegan property; the tribe’s portfolio includes its flagship IR, Mohegan Sun, in Uncasville, Connecticut; and resorts in Pennsylvania, Washington state, Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Ontario.
“To be able to expand our reach halfway around the world is a significant milestone” for the tribe, said Pineault.
