Japan towns ask for casino permissions
Japan rural areas also seek gaming and touristic venues in their lands.
Japan.- Whilst international casino operators have announced plans to develop the upcoming Japanese gaming industry, rural areas of the Asian country stated that potential venues in main cities dismiss the government’s promise of boosting the activities in the countryside. Considered as one of the possible most profitable markets worldwide, the Japanese casino market was approved to enhance the economic sector.
“MGM’s business model is to build large-scale destination resorts with lots of stuff that cost a lot of money,” answered Ed Bowers, executive vice president of global development for MGM Resorts International. “So it needs to be in a high density population area, and obviously the ones to be mentioned are Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama. So we’re focused on those three.”
Rural areas of Japan has been disappointed as main casino companies have shown further interest in developing their business in the already settled cities, such as Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama, as the Macau Daily Times reported. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had allegedly supported the gaming legislation as it was aimed at boosting the general development of rural areas like Nagasaki to Hokkaido.
Governments of both cities now are criticising the casino construction process as they believe it would only benefit big cities in Japan. “We need to be in a major city that’s connected to a major international airport so we can bring in the millions of people that we want to host at our property,” also stated Marina Bay Sands CEO George Tanasijevich in the Macau Daily Times.
However, Caesars Entertainment Corp. is exploring potential business in the whole country. “We are currently exploring opportunities in both urban and regional markets,” said Steven Tight, the president of international development for the company.
