Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING FEB 2019 36 strong moral values and who can act with no hint of self-interest. Japanese politics has unfortunately been marred by various scandals and verbal blunders from new ministers shortly after taking office and it is vital to the future of IRs that no similar stumbling blocks emerge as this significant new industry develops. KICKING IT UP A GEAR Once a detailed cabinet order pertaining to the IR Implementation Act and the subsequent Casino Administration Committee are enacted, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will then be able to announce the basic policies for IR operations. This is the pitcher’s match-defining fast ball and it will be up to local governments and their IR operator partners to hit this pitch out of the park. Considering the fast pace that Osaka prefecture and city are moving on this – Governor Matsui stating, “We will independently make a public offering of plans for IR operators and will have narrowed down the candidates by summer” – other local governments and operators may The committee chairwill need to be a person with strong moral values and who can act with no hint of self-interest. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promised that the nation’s IRs will adopt “the highest standards in the world.” not have the time to wait for a slow curve ball. Although Osaka is looking to open an IR property the year before the World Expo in 2025, other local municipalities may need to expand their strike zone. If that’s the case, it won’t be long before overseas IR operators, aiming to infiltrate regions other than Osaka, kick it up a gear. We do know that concepts and plans from various operators are being presented to local municipalities and are at the stage where the foundation for forming a consortium with a local company is being laid. As per the timeline displayed in this article, as long as the preparations of IR operators and local governments are progressing, there is a possibility that once the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism releases his basic policy announcement in 2019 and the IR operators are chosen by prefectural governments in early 2020, everything else will move quickly afterwards. Once this milestone has been reached, all that is left will be to turn the innovative designs for Japan’s first IRs into a reality. Now is the opportunity to take back the time lost waiting for this legislation to arrive. JAPAN