The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has chosen business services firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC to do what is termed an “Integrated Resort impact study”.
According to GGRAsia’s information, the Tokyo study, announced in principle in early September, is to research and analyse the likely impact on Tokyo (pictured) of hosting a casino resort – a type of facility referred to in Japan as an “integrated resort” – including economic factors and the topic of “gambling addiction”. The latter subject is a constant theme of public policy and public debate in Japan in relation to the casino issue.
Reports from Japan said Deloitte was the only bidder for the work, with a tender priced at JPY7.7 million (US$68,600).
Tokyo’s Bureau of Port and Harbor has previously commissioned and made public case study reports on overseas casino resorts. It issued four such reports on different venues – one annually – between 2014 and 2017
Brokerage CLSA Ltd indicated in a Hong Kong briefing in early September that the first Japanese resorts might not open until 2026 at the earliest, with Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama likely to be the front-runner locations for the first wave of openings.
Only three resorts are to be permitted in the first phase of market liberalisation, according to the Integrated Resorts Implementation Act, which was passed by Japan’s parliament in July.
