Tomakomai to work with IR operators

The Tomakomai government is targetting IR operators to work with them in order to compile the “Tomakomai IR Master Plan” by the end of next March.

Japan.- Gaming expansion in Japan has turned the country in an attractive target for international companies. That’s why the government of Tomakomai, a northern-Hokkaido island is looking to compile a “Tomakomai IR Master Plan” with help of IR operators.

The city will survey the intentions of companies regarding potential investment in Tomakomai and will hold an “explanation meeting” in Tokyo on July 21, AGBrief reports. City officials have projected at least ten major operators to attend the inaugural meeting and are willing to consider bids from single projects as well as from consortiums.

There have already been various bids presented to the city and, according to officials, they will refine it down to about two possibilities: they’ll give priority to those projects from companies with a proven track record and gaming industry know-how. There have been reports indicating that Hard Rock International chairman James Allen and the Clairvest investment group visited Tomakomai in February and May respectively.

Two other local governments in the region are also assessing the possibility of hosting IRs and are evaluating ideas about how they might work together.