Inside Asian Gaming

IAG AUG 2019年8月 亞博匯 60 It is difficult to find the best words or phrasing that works equally well in both languages. In order for the Japan market to succeed, it is imperativethatnothinggets lost intranslation 很難找到同時在兩種語言中皆可準確表意的最佳詞彙或 措辭。為了保證日本市場的成功，當務之急即為保證翻譯 的準確達意。 D uring this year’s Japan Gaming Congress (JgC), attendeeswere informed on a series of topics ranging from public perceptions of integrated resorts (IRs), non-gaming topics including F&B and entertainment, and the vision that operators participating in the event have crafted for the market. One of the things that became even more apparent was how much vital information can be lost in the translation from Japanese to English, or vice versa, between speakers and officials attending the event. Even the smallest difference in the selections of words can make a world of difference in how regulations, the vision and the feasibility of the three initial IRs will be decided over the coming months. Part of the reason the market is where it is today is that it is difficult to find the best words or phrasing that works equally well in both languages. In order for the Japan market to succeed, it is imperative that nothing gets lost in translation so the market is established in the best framework for IRs that the world has developed since Singapore launched its process in the mid-2000s. One thing not lost in translation is the continued desire of the Japanese to drive tourism with a focus on the expansion of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions). They have also expressed from the beginning the desire for IRs to serve as a hub for tourism to reach other parts of Japan, and the original IR Promotion Act passed in December 2016 served as the catalyst. However, one of the keys to the future of the Japan gaming market will be the establishment of the 300- plus regulations that will eventually be decided by the future Casino Control Commission, which will consist of over 90 employees and a budget of over JPY$6 billion (US$55 million). The process of establishing the Commission continues to move forward, even though the timeline has been delayed by a few months as the announcement of the Commissioners to the Casino Control Commission has been pushed back. Meanwhile, the creation of the government office continues what will eventually propagate these rules as well as govern the entity once the commission is established. This new agency, whose funding was established through the last ordinary session of the Diet, will reside within the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. During JgC, one of the more informative panels that will help shape the future of integrated resorts was the final panel on the last day, featuring several C-Suite executives from some of the leading IR bidders. The panel highlighted some of the challenges that exist with the length of the licensee term, which is currently set at five years, and the ability to finance COLUMNISTS