Several foreign companies are seeking to build casino facilities in South Korea’s economic free zones following eased regulations on investment, industry sources said Sunday.

U.S.-based firm Caesars Entertainment Corporation and Lippo Group, an Indonesian company, applied for preliminary review by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in January for a joint casino in Yeongjongdo, home to Incheon International Airport, sources said.

Universal Entertainment Corporation, a Japanese casino firm, also applied to build a gambling facility at the international business district near the airport. The culture ministry handles permitting and operations of casinos.

The move came as South Korea’s economy ministry eased regulations on applications for foreigners last year to set up casinos in economic free zones in an attempt to attract foreign investment. (Yonhap News)