Barrière presents project in Japan

Casino market holds international companies interest, but approval remains delayed.

Japan.- Despite Japanese gaming market legalisation, several delays by Japanese legislators has meant a major debate to approve related regulations casino development is yet to take place. Meanwhile, international companies such as Barrière have shown interest in participating within the market, which is expected to be one of the most profitable at an international level.

During an interview with AGBrief, representatives of Barrière – a casino resort operator with businesses in Switzerland, France and Africa – shared its plans to develop an integrated resort in Japan. Jonathan Strock, Barrière’s director of casino development, said the company would locate its casino outside major urban locations like Osaka or Yokohama, revealing: “We’ve been from Kushiro in the north of Hokkaido and the most southerly place would be Naha in Okinawa, and we’ve been to most places in-between at one point or another.”

However, in order to be able to bid for the territory and the gaming license, international companies must wait for the final resolution of Congress to address regulations related to problem gambling, licensing process and casino taxes (among other issues). “Regulations can be tough, which is what we like… We like that sort of barrier to entry, where you can only have various companies coming into the market,” stated Strock.