Genting Singapore’s proven track record in one of the most regulated gaming jurisdictions in the world will give the company “an edge over our competitors” in the race to win one of three licenses to operate a Japanese integrated resort, according to Executive Chairman Lim Kok Thay.
The comments formed part of Lim’s Chairman’s Statement in Genting Singapore’s 2018 Annual Report, published Tuesday, in which he offered a rare insight into the company’s Japan strategy.
While Genting Singapore, operator of Resorts World Sentosa, has been one of the quiet achievers in preparations for its IR bid, Lim was quick to turn his focus to Japan in addressing shareholders, stating, “We are cautiously optimistic about leveraging on our experience in winning the IR bid in Singapore back in 2006 that led to significant tourism growth, in order to do the same in Japan soon.
“The IR industry in Japan is expected to be a stringently regulated one, so we are hopeful that our track record of operating in a very tightly regulated environment in Singapore will give us an edge over our competitors in the Japan IR bid.”
Genting Singapore, which opened its first Japan office in Tokyo in September 2017, has since named Osaka or Yokohama as its preferred locations to develop an IR.
The company last year incorporated five Japanese subsidiaries – Genting Japan Co., Ltd, Genting Tokyo Co., Ltd, Genting Osaka Co., Ltd, Genting Yokohama Co., Ltd and Resorts World Yokohama Co., Ltd.