Caesars Will Win Japan License, Says Executive VP

Though in October, others appeared to be in the lead for a Japanese license, Caesars Entertainment is now a leading candidate for winning the race for a Japan casino license…

…at least that’s according to the company’s Executive VP of Government Relations, Jan Jones Blackhurst, who says that the Las Vegas-based gambling leviathan is poised to become “one of the few US gaming companies to gain access to the lucrative Japanese gaming market.”

Japanese authorities are working on determining the three major gaming companies who will win the rights to obtain coveted gaming licenses in this country whose casino market is on the cusp of opening to the world.

Japan is Crucial

Blackhurst stated in an interview with Nevada Newsmakers that Japan is one of the top priorities for Caesars Entertainment – which can be said for the entire gaming industry:

“This is probably the single most important market to open in the last decade for sure, maybe the last two decades,” she stresses.

Despite its international pedigree and status of one of the world’s major gambling operators, Caesars’ chances of landing the Japanese license are marred on the of sheer strength of opposition they are encountering there. Nearly all major casino operators – Hard Rock, Melco and Galaxy Entertainment – are looking to apply for it.

In July this year, Japan’s Parliament and House of Representatives and the country’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, Osaka currently deemed a favorite).

Love of Gamble as a Decisive Factor

Due to the country’s relative vicinity to some of Asian’s gaming markets and gambling hubs such as Macau, and the general love for gambling expressed regularly by the citizens of Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun is seen as a “promised land” for Las Vegas high-fliers.

Blackhurst, who became Las Vegas’ first female mayor in 1991 and served two , claims that gambling potential in Japan is enormous thanks to how thoughtfully the country’s officials have put together the legislation.

“The Japanese love to gamble. They are also looking to grow their tourism and their entire direct tourism market who are also significant gamblers — the Koreans, the Chinese and the Malayans.”

Bigger Than Macau?

But the most promising point of all is the critical nature of Caesars winning the Japan license, because the brand has already missed out on Macau licensing. And Blackhurst spills the beans as to why that is:

“There are no integrated resorts in Japan. The upside for revenue possibly is equivalent to or greater than Macau, even with just three licenses.”

In 2025, when the first casino resort opens in Japan, the country’s gaming industry annual gross gaming revenue could reach $21 billion, according to global investment research firm, Morningstar.

Source:

“Caesars positioned to jump into lucrative Japanese market, exec says”, Ray Hagar, lasvegassun.com, December 10, 2018.