New | Asian casinos go all-out to lure Chinese gamblers

At the oceanfront Ramada Plaza hotel on South Korea's Jeju island, about 100 Chinese gamblers huddle around felt-topped tables, wagering as much as five million won (HK$35,000) at baccarat. Shouts in Putonghua - "Beautiful!", "Good!" - ring out as bettors with winning hands slam their cards on the green table-tops.

Asian casino operators from Korea to Australia are pulling in China's gamblers as the country's corruption crackdown scares many away from Macau, the world's biggest gambling hub. They are capitalising on a downturn in the city's gaming industry, which last month suffered its worst drop ever.

Operators such as Paradise Co in Korea are hiring Putonghua-speaking staff and offering VIP treatment including free flights, limousines and hotel stays to big spenders.

Echo Entertainment Group of Sydney and NagaCorp in Cambodia cater to the junket operators who organise trips for Chinese gamblers with perks such as higher commissions, lower taxes and private jets.

"Premium mass players can be recognised as VIP players and treated better than in Macau," said Lee Hyuk-byung, a vice-chairman of Paradise. "And we have other attractions in Korea such as culture, fashion, food."

Macau casino revenue fell last year for the first time and may decline 8 per cent this year, according to analysts. By contrast, Korea and the Philippines would grow 16 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively, this year, gaining from the spillover of Chinese gamblers, Deutsche Bank analyst Karen Tang wrote.

"The anti-corruption measures are discouraging some people from travelling to Macau, and as a result, we are seeing a slight shift in travel from Macau to other destinations," said Aaron Fischer, an analyst at CLSA. "Vietnam and the Philippines will likely benefit as they are the closest. Korea will pick up people in the northern parts of China."