Imminent Casino Bidding in Japan, Possible Consideration for New York Losers for Gambling Opportunities in Japan
Japan is gearing up for another round of casino bidding, with the aim of issuing two additional gaming licenses. This announcement comes after the withdrawal of Sands and Wynn from the New York race, due to local opposition and iGaming concerns.
Naoya Haraikawa, a senior official and former commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, emphasised that casinos are the revenue engine for Integrated Resorts (IRs), but the government seeks to develop new tourist hubs with various tourism facilities. The 2018 casino legislation aimed to grow leisure travel to Japan and diversify its economy.
Haraikawa also mentioned that another bidding round "should not be far off." Japan greenlit MGM's bid and dismissed the Nagasaki scheme, with MGM, in partnership with Japanese financial conglomerate Orix Corporation, constructing a $9 billion IR on Osaka's Yumeshima Island, set to open in 2030.
Meanwhile, the state of New York is deciding which three of eight bids will win the initial licenses by the end of the year. Remaining contenders for the NYC licenses include MGM, Genting, Caesars, Hard Rock, Mohegan, and Bally's. Sands was the first to exit, causing others to follow, leaving Japan with only two bids: MGM in Osaka and Casinos Australia for Nagasaki.
Tokyo and Hokkaido are reportedly considering IR developments should another casino application period initiate in Japan. The global gaming industry took interest in Japan's casino legislation, with Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, Hard Rock International, Melco Resorts, Genting, Galaxy Entertainment, and Mohegan expressing interest.
Gaming analysts predict that Singapore's casino duopoly held by Sands and Genting will remain "competitive and large" regardless of when casinos become operational in Japan and Thailand. It's worth noting that only one casino is currently in development in Osaka, and the expected date for the second round of casino bidding in Japan has not been explicitly mentioned.
The 2018 bill included consumer protections, such as a ¥3,000 (US$21) casino entry fee for Japanese people, to limit domestic gambling and focus on foreign visitors. The documents focus primarily on other international casino news, regulations on online gambling in Japan, and unrelated casino expansion details in other regions but do not specify the timing for the bidding rounds in Japan.
If you're interested, I can provide a general overview of Japan's casino licensing process or update you when more precise scheduling information becomes available closer to the bidding events. Losers in New York could potentially return their interest to Japan should their investment capital not be tied up in New York.
- The government of Japan aims to develop new tourist hubs with various tourism facilities, not just casinos, for Integrated Resorts (IRs), as highlighted by Naoya Haraikawa.
- In Osaka, MGM, in partnership with Japanese financial conglomerate Orix Corporation, is constructing a $9 billion IR on Yumeshima Island, set to open in 2030.
- Japan has greenlit MGM's bid and dismissed the Nagasaki scheme, leaving only two bids in Japan: MGM in Osaka and Casinos Australia for Nagasaki.
- The state of New York is deciding which three of eight bids will win the initial licenses by the end of the year, with remaining contenders including MGM, Genting, Caesars, Hard Rock, Mohegan, and Bally's.
- The global gaming industry has expressed interest in Japan's casino legislation, with companies like Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, Hard Rock International, Melco Resorts, Genting, Galaxy Entertainment, and Mohegan showing interest.
- Singapore's casino duopoly held by Sands and Genting is predicted to remain "competitive and large" regardless of when casinos become operational in Japan and Thailand.
- The 2018 bill included consumer protections, such as a ¥3,000 (US$21) casino entry fee for Japanese people, to limit domestic gambling and focus on foreign visitors.
- Tokyo and Hokkaido are considering IR developments should another casino application period initiate in Japan.
- Losers in New York could potentially return their interest to Japan should their investment capital not be tied up in New York.
