Nagasaki chooses Casinos Austria as IR partner

The Nagasaki Prefectural Government has selected Casinos Austria International as its priority choice as a partner for its IR bid.

Japan.- Three days after contenders presented their integrated resort plans to the Nagasaki Prefectural Government, Casinos Austria International Japan Inc has been selected as the priority choice of partner.

The company’s proposal scored 697.0 points, other contenders. Niki Chau Fwu Group received 667.1 points, while Oshidori International Holdings Ltd, which had considered withdrawing from the process, received a score of 682.8 points.

Casinos Austria owns 12 casinos in Austria as well as the lottery business Austrian Lotteries. Its international division has investments in several casinos and gaming businesses internationally.

Nagasaki’s Integrated Resort Promotion Division said: “The request-for-proposal procedure to select the priority negotiation right holder was conducted with fairness and integrity.”

It said its decision was made “after deliberation between Nagasaki prefecture, Sasebo city, and the Nagasaki Public Safety Commission as stipulated in Article-8 Item-1 of the IR Implementation Law.”

Hodo Nakamura, Nagasaki prefecture’s governor, said: “I sincerely thank all that have taken part in this RFP procedure during a very trying time in the world. I would like to express gratitude for the excellent proposals which put on full display the unique features of the operators.”

The prefecture will make a submission to Japan’s national government by 2022 in its bid for permission to develop an integrated resort.

Japan’s Integrated Resorts Implementation Act, which for an initial three IRs was implemented on July 19.

The Implementation Act includes gross gaming revenue (GGR) calculation, internal controls for casino operations and verification of casino employees, among other rules.

There are currently four cities expected to bid for the three licences: Nagasaki, Yokohama, Osaka and Wakayama.