Ten Year Japan IR License Not Worth Bidding For

Only a few years ago local and international casino operators were fighting over themselves to be in position to gain a integrated resort license for Japan, even exhibition and conference organisers from around the world jumped in and hosted events supporting the frenzy that was Japan entering the casino industry.

Now in 2021 it is a different story with the majority of international operators leaving or left the bidding process for Japan, when announced by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe back in 2018 that Japan were to have integrated resorts the excitement was intense with estimates saying that resorts would generate $40 billion a year.

Fast forward to now and political parties are fighting over the legislation and the few remaining operators interested in applying are now considering their options after the government said that the initial license process will award just a ten year period for the holder.

Given the huge sums it will take to develop a resort, a ten year license until re-applying is not that long, also given the fact that the political landscape in Japan can change dramatically in a short time, a ten year license may not be that at all.

The whole process by the Japanese government from start to now has been a mess, what was once looked at by operators as a major location to develop a gambling venue has now long gone and the possibility of any resort ever being developed is highly unlikely.

One regional gaming consultant said: “there is now more chance of online sports betting within Japan that there is for integrated resorts.”