US tribal casino operator Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment is set to become the fourth gaming company to open an office in Hokkaido as competition for a regional Japanese IR license continues to heat up.
Local media is reporting that Mohegan will launch its office in Tomakomai City in April, with Vice President of Corporate Finance Christopher Jones stating, “We hope to proceed with its use and application as the home base of information related to business PR [around an] IR.”
The office will also serve as a showroom for the communication of information, while Mohegan is considering partnering with local corporations to host joint seminars.
The building Mohegan has its eye on is the same one fellow US casino operator Rush Street Gaming moved into last December.
Canadan investment company Clairvest Neem Ventures was the first to arrive in Tomakomai when it established an office in January 2018, while Hard Rock Japan will join Mohegan in opening its Tomakomai office this April.
Caesars Entertainment and Foxwoods have also shown interest in Hokkaido.
The next cue for these operators to kick it up a gear will be the gubernatorial election on 7 April, which will decide what direction Hokkaido will take in the IR bid.