Union Gaming launches study about Japan

The second study about Japan casino industry has been shared by an expert from Union Gaming.

Japan.- The international advisory firm focused on the gaming industry, Union Gaming, has been assessing the Japanese casino development since legislators took into account national debates on the issue. For the second time in one month, the firm has shared a study on the industry by one of its analysts, Grant Govertsen, who concluded that the government is planning a strict control on casinos.

According to Govertsen’s report, a tight gaming regulation would not affect major investments by international casino operators, such as MGM Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, among others. As the government has not approved a complete legislation on the industry, the licensing process has not officially begun. However, companies keep sharing their interest in investing in Japan.

Meanwhile, Govertsen said that although the government is delaying casinos’ construction by postponing the approval of legislations, the final draft would keep changing throughout the years and not in an optimistic way for operators. “The [Japanese] government cannot be trusted to maintain a certain rulebook,” stated the analyst according to AGBrief.

Furthermore, as the Japanese Congress has not released a complete legislation on casino development, the industry is facing severe delays, which could be extended for another year. “We don’t believe a single member of Japan’s assembled Expert Committee has as much as one day’s experience planning, building, or operating an IR or a casino. This is a problem as there seems to be a growing disconnect between what sounds good on paper vs. how things will actually play out in real life,” added Govertsen.