Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING MAY 2018 48 TRADE EVENTS T HE 2018 Japan Gaming Congress is shaping up as one of the most significant gaming industry events of the year. Coming at a time when Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is deep into the process of pushing through its long-awaited Integrated Resort Implementation Bill – which will officially set the rules and regulations for the local casino industry – it is one of the few industry gatherings to attract a significant number of senior executives and CEOs from the world’s leading gaming industry players. Last year’s event attracted 420 attendees in what was a clear demonstration of the huge global interest in Japan’s burgeoning casino industry and at least that many again are expected in 2018, particularly given the sudden and significant progress made on the IR Implementation Bill since the start of April. After more than a year of seemingly slow going, lawmakers last month agreed on a range of key criteria that will make up the bill, including the provision for three licenses to be issued in the first round. As part of a series of compromises between the LDP, which sought more relaxed rules, and its coalition partner Komeito which fought for far tighter restrictions, these initial three licenses will be open for expansion after seven years as opposed to the previously proposed 10 years. In good news for prospective operators, a flat tax rate of 30% will be imposed – better than the sliding scale suggested earlier which had the tax rate climbing as high as 50% depending on revenue. The size of the casino will be limited to 3% of the total floor space of the integrated resort, however a prior plan to limit the IR size to 15,000 square meters has been scrapped. Locals will be restricted to three visits per week and 10 per month as part of the country’s measures to curb problem gambling. Finally, Japan residents will be subject to a ¥6,000 entry fee – equivalent to US$54 – as part of those same measures. The figure IAG is at Japan Gaming Congress! 10 AND 11 MAY 2018 • Our CEO Andrew W Scott will be Chairing Day 2 • Creation of a mini-magazine incorporating interviews and articles related to the show • IAG will have a team of four at JgC. Come and say hi to our CEO Andrew W Scott, Managing Editor Ben Blaschke, Deputy Editor Oscar Guijarro and videographer Danomad Kuan.