The IR Implementation Act which legalizes casino gambling in Japan will finally take effect from July 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Japan.- The national cabinet has announced Japan\u2019s Integrated Resorts Implementation Act<\/strong> that allows casinos and opens the doors for the development of the IR will be implemented on July 19<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although three IRs will be allowed in the first round of development, it is expected the number may increase <\/strong>after a period of seven or more years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to GGRAsia, the Implementation Act includes gross gaming revenue (GGR) calculation<\/strong>, internal controls for casino operations and verification of casino employees<\/strong>, among other rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are currently four cities bidding for an IR licence<\/strong>: Yokohama, Nagasaki, Osaka and Wakayama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yokohama: <\/strong>After a lot of doubt around the matter, it now seems that current pro-IR mayor<\/a> Fumiko Hayashi<\/strong> may run for reelection, and her chances may have been boosted due to a large number of anti-IR candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The possibility that Hayashi<\/strong> might run for a fourth term seemed increasingly uncertain after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party <\/strong>showed a preference for anti-IR Hachiro Okonogi<\/a> as its candidate. However, the party may still support Hayashi if the party believes she could win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the anti-IR parties, it seems unlikely they will unite behind a single candidate<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In June, Takeharu Yamanaka<\/strong> was selected as the candidate to represent the CDPJ<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mayoral election <\/strong>will be held on August 22<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nagasaki:<\/strong> Niki Chau Fwu Group, <\/strong>one of the three contenders for Nagasaki\u2019s IR bid, has announced it will partner with three local construction companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a press release, Niki Chau Fwu Group <\/strong>will partner with Hazama Ando Corp; Okumura Corp; and Tanigawa Kensetsu Co Ltd, three construction firms that will help it to achieve \u201cthe highest quality for the IR development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other contenders are Oshidori International Holdings<\/strong> and Casinos Austria International. <\/strong>The three companies have entered the second stage<\/a> of the bidding process, in which each company must show its business strategies and plans to tackle gambling addiction issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Osaka: <\/strong>Osaka<\/a> is processing the potential challenges of a one-horse race as MGM-Orix<\/strong> remains the only contender <\/strong>to become its private partner despite an extension of the deadline for submissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Osaka government had asked potential contenders to assume the costs of extending the Osaka Metro<\/strong> line to the site. However, authorities are now afraid MGM-Orix could renegotiate conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same concerns are harboured over the planned meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) facilities as Osaka wanted its operators to add MICE facilities <\/strong>beyond the requirements of national legislation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Wakayama: Clairvest Neem Ventures\u2019 consortium <\/strong>presented its integrated resort plans to the Wakayama Prefectural Government<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In June, authorities accepted Clairvest<\/a> as its IR partner after Suncity Group<\/a>, the only other contender, withdrew from the process due to uncertainty caused by the impact of the Covid-19 <\/strong>pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\nJapan\u2019s current integrated resort plans<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n