Yokohama sets aside US$3.3m for IR promotion in 2021 budget

Yokohama city council has approved a budget of JPY360m (US$3.3m) earmarked for IR promotion.

Japan.- Yokohama City Council has confirmed its budget for the 2021 financial year, setting aside JPY360m (US$3.4m) for the city’s planned integrated resort.

Yokohama previously announced the sum in its draft budget which was backed by Liberal Democratic Party member Masaki Okuwa and Masaharu Takahashi of Komeito.

Anti-IR opposition party member Kotaro Fujisaki claimed the government has no intention to explain the IR development to the city’s residents objectively but would use the funds to push propaganda in favour of the project.

Yokohama’s current mayor Fumiko Hayashi, who is in favour of an IR, has published 855,000 copies of a pamphlet promoting the benefits of an Integrated Resort in Yokohama.

The document has been widely criticised by those opposed to the project, who claim it downplays the casino side of the proposed development.

Nagasaki IR contenders react to new rule claiming exclusivity

Nagasaki’s prefectural government has announced a rule preventing any of its bidders from holding a 5 per cent stake or more in any bid in other locations.

Officials said the rule aimed to ensure no conflicts of interest during the bidding process.

Casinos Austria, Oshidori Group and NIKI Chau Fwu, the three operators chosen to move forward into the next round, supported the move and said it wouldn’t affect their plans.

Alex Yemenidjian, Chairman and CEO of Oshidori International Development Ltd, said the company did not intend to participate in any other tender process because it believed the Nagasaki Prefecture deserved to have 100 per cent of its commitment.