Inside Asian Gaming

MAR 2019 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 27 O saka is Japan’s leading candidate city for an IR and also home to a private organization with an increasing presence in the IR debate – the “IR Local Alliance.” This organization is trying to take a leadership role in the new businesses that will accompany an IR opening, and the major overseas IR operators better take notice. THE ENTHUSIASTIC BUSINESS NATURE OF THE OSAKA-ITE The organization really embodies the nature of Osaka as a commercial capital. The IR Local Alliance is a group uniting many companies who believe that the IR planned for 2024 cannot be left entirely in the hands of overseas operators and big corporations. It was formed in July of last year and as of mid-February consists of over 60 member companies. KEY FIGURES IN THE KANSAI REGION A wide variety of companies have joined. It’s chock- full of key figures from numerous industries and a look at the list of members provides a who’s-who of companies that can provide services in tourism, F&B and transportation infrastructure. The restaurant name list alone, including Daruma (deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables “kushi-katsu”) and Ganko (sushi) is like a directory of Dotonbori and its “eat ‘til you drop” reputation. Kanji Hori, president of the alliance, told IAG , “We aren’t just in this to make money, we are a collection of the best companies in Kansai. Eventually we want to select 100 companies, but the most important thing is to become an organization that can beat the competition. “It is tourism and city development that this alliance is trying to take charge of. There is an independence and spirit of business unique to the people of Osaka and eminently suitable for making the most of a new business. We like making things different. “Casinos will only take up 3% of the IR properties. That means the remaining 97% will be city development. Most of all, the local community must benefit and we want Osaka to be prosperous. We possess the know- how to make that happen.” THE OSAKA IR PROJECT STARTED IN 2010 Osaka prefecture and city first expressed interest in IRs back in 2010. Since then it has repeatedly been one