The IR bid of Japan’s Wakayama Prefecture remains on track after Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka secured a fourth consecutive four-year term on Sunday.
Governor Nisaka has been a vocal supporter of building an IR in Wakayama to boost tourism dollars and was quick to address the issue again after retaining power over the weekend.
“The negative effects of having a casino can be prevented. I will explain its positive sides to the citizens,” local media reported him as saying.
The Governor was supported by Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito in securing another term over his only challenger Masayoshi Hatanaka, who had taken an anti-casino stance in the lead-up to voting.
Wakayama is bidding to win the sole regional casino license expected to be issued by the national government in 2019, with Hokkaido and Nagasaki among the other regional contenders.