Hard Rock discloses plans for Hokkaido IR
Hard Rock International presented its master plan for Hokkaido at the Hokkaido IR Showcase.
Japan.- The upcoming Japanese casino industry is one of the top targetted markets in the world as operators from all around the globe want to take a piece of the action in the archipelago. That’s why Hard Rock International presented its masterplan for a potential Hokkaido venue at the Hokkaido IR Showcase.
The operator’s Chairman Jim Allen presented the building model and said it would have 1,500 rooms and 200k square feet of retail, a cultural exhibit, a music Hall of Fame featuring Japanese artists, a Yankees Baseball area and other entertainment features. Furthermore, the company announced it plans to work with NEC and use their facial recognition technology and with Four Seasons to develop its hotel.
The Japanese casino industry is in the making as the final regulation of how and where it will be developed is still being discussed. However, several companies are landing in the country and opening offices in the archipelago to position themselves ahead of the IR licensing process.
In 2018, Clairvest and Hard Rock had already decided to land in Tomakomai city, in the Hokkaido prefecture, as they plan to win an IR bid. However, local newspaper Tomakomai Minpo revealed that more US-based companies have announced their intention to open shop in Japan: Rush Street Gaming and Mohegan.
