Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING JUNE 2018 44 Uncertainty over Japan’s foreign ownership laws and the role of pachinko in Japanese IRs were two of the key topics of discussion during an insightful panel session hosted by Inside Asian Gaming at G2E Asia titled Asian Markets Forum. FEATURES LINGERING CLOUDS T HE distribution of ownership between local and foreign partners developing Japan’s integrated resorts remains the “biggest mystery” for operators as IR legislation creeps closer to becoming a reality, according to Senior Vice President of Gaming and Strategy for 2NT8 Alidad Tash. The former Sands China and Melco Crown executive raised the issue as a major area of concern for the world’s leading IR operators during a special Asian Markets Forum conference session at G2E Asia 2018, presented and hosted by Inside Asian Gaming . While issues such as tax rate, the number of licenses to be JAPAN’S GREAT UNKNOWN issued and entry fees have now been determined, Tash believes ownership rules remain the number one stumbling block yet to be resolved. “Yes there are 11 factors that have now been determined – there will be three cities, the next round will be seven years later, the tax rate is fixed – but I think the most unresolved question is the percentage of foreign ownership,” he said. “That is the biggest mystery I would struggle with. “The percentage of foreign ownership is a big deal and that may play a part – if that ownership is less than 50% or less than 30% it will