NORTH ASIA 38
JAPAN
Daniel Cheng*
Politics continue to obscure IR outlook Like a delinquent child who refuses to follow the rule book, going astray is more the norm than exception for the passage of casino gaming in Japan. Notwithstanding the unwaning nurture and resources the Japanese government had poured into it over the past two decades, there was little reciprocation for the love and attention it received. The IR (Integrated Resorts) Act is on track to be the oldest alumnus in Japanese legislative history when the first casino finally opens its doors.
T
he current best estimate for the latter is 2028 which would mark 30 years to realise a piece of law from ideation to implementation. However, by the looks of what’s brewing in the horizon, this recalcitrant may not be quite done yet and still have some tricks up its sleeves. We witnessed the self-expulsion of Yokohama last month which automatically ejected Genting Singapore, Melco Entertainment and Sega Sammy from the IR race as it currently stands. Nagasaki is bracing a maelstrom in threats of lawsuits from the runner-up bidder accusing the prefectural government of gross improprieties. The situation is reduced to a tarring and feathering slugfest that does no favours for either side. Even a sole bidder, and hence winner by default over at Wakayama wasn’t spared, with unfounded accusations slung at Clairvest’s advisor, Bill Weidner, who boasted stellar gaming credentials as the brains behind the global ascension of Las Vegas Sands’ success in Asia. Comparatively to the west, it’s snoozeville at Osaka where MGM Resorts and their partner, ORIX, are filing
Asia Gaming Briefings | October 2021
their fingernails perfectly happily in ennui. We are heading into two months which could see more gale force winds passing through in an exciting political calendar beginning with the just-concluded LDP presidential election which saw four contenders wrangling to take over from Yoshihide Suga to lead the party and become the 100th Prime Minister of Japan. The Lower House national elections is to follow likely in early November and sandwiched uncomfortably between is the start of the 6-month time window for interested prefectures to submit their IR bids to the national government. The IR train is quite safe in the hands of the incoming Cabinet as the quartet vying for the LDP helm are all supportive of the tourism initiative. Taro Kono offers the best prospects for the long haul with his Western educational background and international depth which augur well with the concept of casino gaming as a form of entertainment; he is also the least hawkish in his views towards China whose citizens represent the key customer demographics for Japan integrated resorts. Seiko Noda
