Nagasaki Continues with Integrated Resorts Plans; Osaka Still Reserved

Japan’s Integrated Resort has been planned for a while but has faced several delays in the previous months. The country still looks to push the project which will see three local cities becoming richer via new casino venues. The present state of the things is in favor of Nagasaki and Osaka which have already submitted their applications for the project.

More About the Efforts

Both Nagasaki and Osaka are determined to continue their effort to become an official candidate for IR Japan.

Nagasaki has previously mentioned that it wouldn’t be able to stand any additional delay. Local representatives have started with the Request for Proposals phase and represented a new Kyushu-Nagasaki IR Basic Concept. The virtual meetings have been organized despite the pandemic, which allowed all candidates to learn more about expectations as well as to explain their operational preparedness.

On this occasion, a representative from IR planning department, Masahiko Kunihiro said:

“Nagasaki Governor Hodo Nakamura last week stated that the current plan is to commence with the RFP process in the summer and decide on the IR partner in the winter of this year. Considering the current national schedule, the prefecture and IR partner will then spend several months creating an IR Implementation Plan to submit to the central government.”

Osaka, on the other hand, has postponed the conclusion of RFP initiative, while waiting to see the government’s reactions to its Basic Policy.

Osaka Mayor, Ichiro Matsui said:

“The desire of operators to expand to Osaka remains the same, but we have not been able to make progress due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”This will almost certainly guarantee that it won’t be possible for Osaka to see an IR in 2026 or ’27, with ’28 or ’29 becoming more realistic targets as time marches on.”

Speaking on the possible launch, Matsui added:

“We will consider what must be reviewed upon negotiation with the operator.”

Source:

“Nagasaki pushes forward with IR dreams, Osaka still on hold”, Errik Gibbs, calvinayre.com, June 24, 2020.