Operators reaffirm their interest in coming Japanese casinos

After last week’s passage of the Integrated Resort Implementation Bill, three of the planet ’s biggest gambling operators have reportedly reaffirmed their interest in running one of Japan’s coming trio of integrated casino resorts.

According to a Thursday report from GGRAsia, the past seven days have observed leading figures at Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited, Las Vegas Sands Corporation and NagaCorp Limited affirm that they remain ready to associate with neighborhood Japanese municipalities so as to make license pitches to central authorities .

Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited:

Lawrence Ho Yau Lung, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Hong Kong-headquartered Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited, used a Tuesday conference call with shareholders to say that the coming Japanese casino marketplace ‘has been a center focus. ’ The billionaire businessman supporting the City of Dreams Macau, Studio City Macau and City of Dreams Manila properties declared that his company is about to devote ‘a huge amount of funds ’ to securing a license and anticipates the bidding process to begin ‘late next year’ in the earliest.

Ho reportedly said…

&ldquoWe anticipate development of the next generation of integrated resorts to shortly commence within this incredibly exciting yet now under-penetrated tourism destination. We think we are well placed in Japan with a strong local team actively working on the floor engaging with the relevant stakeholders. ”

Similarly, Sheldon Adelson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for giant American casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corporation, reportedly told investors Wednesday that his firm is ‘looking forward’ to securing what would be ‘a exceptional opportunity’ at Japan.

Adelson reportedly said…

&ldquoWe expect to be able to bring our track record, experience and development vision together with our industry-leading financial strength to deliver a large-scale MICE-based integrated resort that would be tailored to the Western market. ”

This was followed closely by the vegas -established operator’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Robert Goldstein, explaining that the operator has had a presence in Japan ‘for more than ten years ’ and is quite familiar with the ‘mention points’ being hunted from the Asian nation’s government.

Goldstein said…

“We’re hoping the [Japanese] government is able to move forward. We’ll wait for its leadership and adhere to its advices. ”

For his part, Timothy McNally, Chairman for NagaCorp Limited, used a Wednesday press conference to proclaim that Japan is ‘undoubtedly an attractive market’ to its Phnom Penh-established company.

Howeverhe detailed that he planned to wait for additional official advice concerning coming land acquisition and taxation policies before formulating an official bid.

The news is as casino operator, Genting Singapore Limited, revealed that it had established five additional Japanese subsidiaries in hopes of furthering its own attempt at securing one of those coming licenses.

The company behind the giant Resorts World Sentosa development in Singapore comprehensive on Tuesday (pdf) that its brand new Genting Osaka Company Limited, Genting Japan Company Limited, Genting Yokohama Company Limited, Resorts World Yokohama Company Limited and Genting Tokyo Company Limited subordinates will now be tasked with the ‘management and development of integrated hotel and leisure destinations’ at Japan.