The Japanese prefecture of Wakayama has told regional news outlet GGRAsia that officials are negotiating with new private sector companies interested to join the prefecture’s effort to host one of three integrated resorts that are set to be introduced in Japan later this decade.
A representative said in an emailed statement that they would not disclose the names of the companies that have expressed interest in Wakayama’s integrated resort bid and that it is still unclear whether these companies would participate in the prefecture’s request-for-proposal process.
Japan legalized casino gambling in late 2016. But under the rules adopted by the country’s central government, casinos can only be part of larger complexes known as integrated resorts. The government will issue only three licenses for three gaming facilities at three integrated resorts.
Japanese cities and prefectures must select a private sector partner in order to be able to participate in the bidding process for one of the three gaming licenses. The central government is expected to open a license application window early next year and to accept license applications during the first seven months of 2021.
Known Wakayama Suitors
Wakayama published its draft integrated resort implementation policy and launched a consultation period with interested casino operators in February. The draft policy included the criteria for choosing the developer partner for its integrated resort bid, among many other important pieces of information.
A number of companies have previously expressed interest in building an integrated resort in the prefecture and it seems that they are now joined by a new group of suitors.
During a Wakayama government-organized symposium that took place last August, junket firm Suncity Group, French gaming operator Groupe Lucien Barrière, and Philippine integrated resort operator Bloomberry Resorts presented concepts for integrated resorts in Wakayama.
The Wakayama government representative told GGRAsia that they are assessing whether the above three companies can commit to their integrated resort concepts and that “it’s up to them to decide whether they will participate in the Wakayama RFP or not.”
The prefecture targets late March or early April start of the request-for-proposals process.
Wakayama’s IR Bid – What We Know So Far
According to the prefecture’s recently published draft policy, Wakayama would expect from its private sector partner to develop a unique property that would feature facilities significantly different from the other integrated resorts that are set to be built in Japan.
The prefecture would also expect the property’s developer to leverage on Wakayama’s existing tourism attractions such as natural landmarks, historic sites, hot springs, and very specific food culture.
Wakayama officials are yet pick a site for an integrated resort, should it win the right to host one, but have previously hinted that the artificial Marina City island could be where the mega-complex will be located.
The man-made island is located in Wakayama City approximately 40 kilometers from Kansai International Airport in Osaka Bay.
It has also emerged that the Wakayama local government is discussing a gambling harm mitigation program that would aim to reduce the harm caused by the introduction of casinos on Japanese nationals.
The discussed initiative would involve the introduction of IR cards that would be issued to all Japanese nationals willing to gamble at Wakayama’s resort.
Japanese gamblers would thus be able to place wagers only via their own card and would have to load it with a cash value and set a maximum amount for their gambling budget. The IR card concept would aim to “prevent over-betting” and help reduce the risk of local patrons becoming gambling addicts.
Source: Wakayama talks re possible new suitors on IR says official
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