• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Features
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Japan’s Hokkaido mulls casino and best location

Aug 31, 2018 Newsdesk Japan, Latest News, Top of the deck  


Japan’s Hokkaido mulls casino and best location

The prefectural government of Hokkaido in northern Japan hopes to decide by the end of the year if it will to propose the island (pictured) as a venue for a casino resort and if so, where it should be.

Such venues are known in the Japan context as integrated resorts, or “IRs”. Were a single Hokkaido candidate to be put forward, it would still have to compete in a national government selection process, likely to happen in 2020 or later. Tokyo has said only three resorts will be allowed nationally in a first phase of market liberalisation.

Hokkaido – a winter sports centre – faces some economic headwinds. It has formed what it describes as an expert panel to advise it on the IR topic. It includes academics specialising in university degree-level tourism studies; and doctoral-level researchers on gambling addiction. Thursday saw the second of four meetings of the panel. The other two should be before year-end, according to information gathered by GGRAsia.

Three places on Hokkaido – Tomakomai City, Kushiro City, and Rusutsu Village – are said to be interested in hosting casino resorts, according to an April note from Japanese brokerage Nomura. During Thursday’s meeting of the expert panel, the three places presented their respective pitch for an IR.

Several casino resort operators and investors have expressed interest in pursuing a casino resort project on Hokkaido.

U.S.-based casino group Caesars Entertainment Corp is said to have presented plans to develop a project in the port city of Tomakomai, according to media reports in March. In a Wednesday meeting hosted by Tomakomai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Caesars Entertainment – and independently Clairvest Group Inc, a private equity firm from Canada – explained plans for developing an IR project in the city, according to information gathered by GGRAsia.

Another U.S.-based casino operator and hospitality group Hard Rock International Inc has said it aims to open an office in Tomakomai this year. Daniel Cheng, the company’s senior vice president for casino business development in Asia, was cited by Japan’s state broadcaster NHK in June as saying that Tomakomai was “the most suitable location” in Hokkaido for an integrated resort.

Privately-held Japanese tourism operator Kamori Kanko Co Ltd and property developer Niseko Alpine Developments Co Ltd (NISADE) announced in November that they had formed an all-Japanese partnership to spend an initial US$200 million on redevelopment of a leisure resort in Rusutsu Village. The redevelopment plan is said to include “a strong bid platform” for an integrated resort licence for Japan, NISADE’s chairman Jonathan Martin was quoted as saying in a press statement at the time.

According to local media reports it is likely that an election for the governorship of Hokkaido will be held next year. The incumbent, Harumi Takahashi – in office since 2003 – is an independent said to be broadly supportive of the central government’s IR policy.

In 2014 she toured the Resorts World Sentosa casino resort in Singapore in what was described as a fact-finding mission. Ms Takahashi won her fourth successive term in the Hokkaido gubernatorial election of 2015, and such polls are typically held every four years.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Wynn restates Japan interest, despite not chasing Yokohama
    Wynn restates Japan interest, despite...

    Feb 04, 2021  

  • Yokohama budgets US$3.4mln in 2021 for casino tilt
    Yokohama budgets US$3.4mln in 2021 for...

    Feb 01, 2021  

More news
  • Aristocrat to launch EGM-based responsible gaming features
    Aristocrat to launch EGM-based...

    Feb 26, 2021  

  • Suncity to open clubs at Londoner Macao, Lisboa Palace
    Suncity to open clubs at Londoner...

    Feb 26, 2021  


Latest News

Aristocrat to launch EGM-based responsible gaming features

Aristocrat to launch EGM-based responsible gaming features

Feb 26, 2021  

Casino slot machine maker and digital games provider Aristocrat Leisure Ltd says it plans to launch in the first quarter this year a new product with responsible gaming features, which has already...
Read More
Suncity to open clubs at Londoner Macao, Lisboa Palace

Suncity to open clubs at Londoner Macao, Lisboa Palace

Feb 26, 2021  

Tech supplier Crane ups forecast for 2021 core sales

Tech supplier Crane ups forecast for 2021 core sales

Feb 26, 2021  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Partners

Pick of the Day


US$53.4 million

Adjusted EBITDA reported by Asian casino operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment for the fourth quarter of 2020



Most Popular

  • Macau casino GGR soared in final days of CNY: brokeragesMacau casino GGR soared in final days of CNY: brokerages February 23, 2021
  • Pansy Ho sells off more stock in MGM Resorts for US$36mlnPansy Ho sells off more stock in MGM Resorts for US$36mln February 23, 2021
  • Macau removes last mainland cities from its quarantine listMacau removes last mainland cities from its quarantine list February 23, 2021
  • Macau VIP challenged by changes in China: Galaxy Ent bossMacau VIP challenged by changes in China: Galaxy Ent boss February 25, 2021
  • Galaxy Macau Phase 3 MICE to launch in stages says execGalaxy Macau Phase 3 MICE to launch in stages says exec February 24, 2021
Copyright 2014-2020 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us