• 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
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Melco’s Japan investment could surpass US$10bln: Ho

May 16, 2019 Newsdesk Japan, Japan Gaming Congress 2019, Latest News  


Melco’s Japan investment could surpass US$10bln: Ho

Lawrence Ho Yau Lung, chairman and chief executive of Asian casino developer Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd, says the company’s investment if it won a licence to build a casino resort in Japan could be north of US$10 billion.

“Our estimate is that [the investment for an integrated resort in Japan] is going to be at least US$10 billion and probably more than that,” said Mr Ho (pictured), confirming the group’s interest in bidding for a licence in the Japanese prefecture of Osaka.

“We’ve spent so much time in Osaka, so we’re definitely going to participate in the request-for-concept [RFC] process,” said the executive. “Even a year ago we were ready for the RFC phase. That shows how much work we have done,” he added.

Mr Ho was speaking to GGRAsia on the sidelines of the Japan Gaming Congress in Tokyo on Thursday. The term “integrated resort” or “IR” is used in Japan to describe large-scale gambling resorts with ancillary leisure facilities.

Other contenders for a gaming licence in Japan have suggested that the capital cost of a resort in that country could be US$10 billion. United States-based casino operator MGM Resorts International confirmed this week that it was going to submit a proposal for the Osaka casino RFC phase, in partnership with Japanese financial services group Orix Corp.

Osaka’s RFC application phase – in its effort to identify parties interested in being commercial partners for hosting a casino resort – began on April 25 and ends on May 24.

A maximum of three casino resorts will be permitted in the first stage of market liberalisation in Japan, and interested local governments will still need to get approval from the national authorities.

Under the Osaka RFC requirements, a submission should include a number of core attributes as identified by the national government in ordinances on March 26. They are: convention capacity; exhibition space; an attraction to promote to the world Japan and its culture; ability to function as a tourism gateway to other parts of the country; and a large-scale hotel.

‘Unique position’

Speaking about Melco Resort’s prospects in Osaka, Mr Ho told GGRAsia that the company was “absolutely confident” about its success. “There’s a lot of competition and politics involved, but we are absolutely confident about our bid for Osaka,” said the CEO.

In a presentation session at the Japan Gaming Congress, Mr Ho said Melco Resorts aimed to create a casino resort that appealed to what he termed a premium audience. He said the company’s concept for Osaka was called “City of the Future”.

“Japan is in a unique position, because we have the ability to learn from the mistakes made by others in the past and draw upon what’s been learned by previous successful premium tourism ventures,” stated Mr Ho.

At the presentation, Melco Resorts vice president for design, Pim Robberechts, said the firm’s proposal was created specifically for Osaka. “This integrated resort is inspired by the bay that surrounds it, the city it connects to and the beautiful region where it is located,” he stated.

Mr Robberechts added: “We plan to build a new generation of integrated resorts, that will combine entertainment, luxury, thrills, culture and hospitality at a scale and a level that has never been seen before. It will be a magnet for huge audiences of sophisticated international leisure travellers.”

Another company executive, chief marketing and brand officer Frederic Winckler said Melco Resorts Japan strategies would be to focus on “premium” meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE).

“Premium MICE [customers] look for spaces that are not only big, but that offer extraordinary experiences for large and small groups,” said Mr Winckler. “That’s the new rule and that’s exactly what we are designing.”


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Osaka to up ‘gambling addiction’ centres before IR opens
    Osaka to up ‘gambling addiction’...

    Mar 24, 2023  

  • Casino op SJM 2024 EBITDA to hit US$510mln: Moody’s
    Casino op SJM 2024 EBITDA to hit...

    Mar 22, 2023  

More news
  • Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp
    Main-building work at Naga 3 begins...

    Mar 24, 2023  

  • Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch
    Macau diversification into non-gaming...

    Mar 24, 2023  


Latest News

Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp

Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp

Mar 24, 2023  

Piling work for Naga 3, an addition to the NagaWorld gaming complex in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, was at “96 percent completion”, said the promoter’s 2022 annual report, issued on...
Read More
Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch

Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch

Mar 24, 2023  

Osaka to up ‘gambling addiction’ centres before IR opens

Osaka to up ‘gambling addiction’ centres before IR

Mar 24, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


April 8, 2028

Completion deadline for 'Marina Bay Sands 2.0', as authorised by Singapore’s authorities



Most Popular

  • Sands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens routeSands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens route March 23, 2023
  • March 18 Macau arrivals nearly 100k, best since pandemicMarch 18 Macau arrivals nearly 100k, best since pandemic March 23, 2023
  • Contractor named, work starts for Wynn UAE schemeContractor named, work starts for Wynn UAE scheme March 23, 2023
  • LVS gets 1-year extension for Marina Bay Sands 2.0 startLVS gets 1-year extension for Marina Bay Sands 2.0 start March 24, 2023
  • Universal Ent affiliate to develop land next to Okada ManilaUniversal Ent affiliate to develop land next to Okada Manila March 24, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us