• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Thursday 18 September 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 日本語
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 日本語
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Delay to Japan’s IR application period creates division among candidate cities and prefectures

Tomo Yamamoto by Tomo Yamamoto
Mon 12 Oct 2020 at 07:35
Inside Asian Gaming to launch IAG Japan in 2019
29
SHARES
719
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Last week’s announcement by the Japanese government that it would postpone the application period of local governments to develop IR facilities has created stark division between the locations currently preparing their respective IR bids.

Originally scheduled for January to July 2021, applications will now be accepted from 1 October 2021 to 28 April 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic, which will subsequently delay the opening of Japan’s first IRs.

The postponement follows on from a delay in finalization of Japan’s Basic Policy on IRs, which had originally been planned for publication in January 2020. However, an IR corruption scandal and the global impact of COVID-19 has created hurdles for foreign operators in terms of their finances and ability to continue negotiations with local governments.

The government will formally decide its Basic Policy after a new round of public comments concludes on 7 November. The new Basic Policy draft includes infectious disease countermeasures, rules on the creation of minutes from meetings between government officials and operators, which must also be stored for a certain period of time, and greater efforts to tackle problem gambling.

However, not all candidate locations have greeted the news with open arms.

Currently Osaka city and prefecture, Yokohama city, Wakayama prefecture and Nagasaki prefecture have announced they will make formal bids. Of these, there are looming clouds for Wakayama.

Wakayama prefecture was aiming to steal a quick victory by preparing its bid according to the original schedule, no matter the obstacles. The strategy of Osaka to open before the World Expo is now dead in the water. Wakayama’s governor, Yoshinobu Nisaka, has expressed regret and “deep dissatisfaction.”

Postponement presents a problem even in Yokohama city where opponents to an IR facility have been gaining traction. Mayor Hayashi has said, “We have conducted additional hearings with operators who submitted a proposal and properly considered them. We will work hard to gain residents’ understanding as we move forward with realizing an IR.”

But the situation is now highly unpredictable with the mayor’s fate to be decided at an election on 29 August 2021, right before the application period.

The remaining two local governments have accepted the delay with calm.

Mayor Ichiro Matsui of Osaka welcomed it with gratitude. Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura of Osaka Prefecture said it was a “reasonable decision.” Their interest seems to be focused on the Osaka Metropolis Plan to be voted upon on 1 November.

Governor Nakamura of Nagasaki Prefecture said, “We are currently preparing for the open recruitment and selection of IR companies. Based on the details of this change, we will steadily proceed with preparations for the area certification application while listening to the opinions of the operators.”

RelatedPosts

10 Years Ago: Next Stop Japan

Osaka-based forum to study the potential impact of MGM’s Japan IR on Korea’s casino industry

Wed 27 Aug 2025 at 05:40
Improved Okada Manila performance not enough to push Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp back to profit in 2021

Japan’s Universal falls to US$69 million loss in 1H25 on Okada Manila underperformance

Sun 10 Aug 2025 at 12:56
Konami reveals strong growth for Gaming and Systems segment despite group-wide declines in 1H20

Konami’s Gaming & Systems suffers decline in in June quarter profits on competitive environment, rising tariff costs

Fri 1 Aug 2025 at 05:44
In the crosshairs

Fitch: No clear near-term recovery path for Philippines integrated resort Okada Manila

Wed 30 Jul 2025 at 06:08
Load More
Tags: Application periodBasic PolicyirJapanNagasakiOsakaWakayamaYokohama
Share12Share2
Tomo Yamamoto

Tomo Yamamoto

Born in Okayama, Japan in 1964, Tomo has covered horse racing, professional baseball, golf, boxing and more in his role as a sports writer. He first encountered casinos before Macau was returned to China in 1999. He has traveled to South Korea and Manila to cover events and scope out the local scene. He has studyied “How to get along with casinos,” a topic he learned of from Osaka University of Commerce.

Current Issue

Editorial – Flipping the script

Editorial – Flipping the script

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:30

This month represents an important milestone for Inside Asian Gaming as we launch IAG EXPO – an expansion of the...

Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the state of Asia-Pacific’s key gaming markets: who’s hot, who’s not and...

Rewriting the rules

Rewriting the rules

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:43

IAG EXPO, taking place at Newport World Resorts from 8 to 10 September, is not your usual trade show. IAG...

Test of character

Test of character

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:28

Since its establishment in 1989, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has developed into the world’s most trusted name when it comes...

Evolution Asia
Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
NWR

Related Posts

DigiPlus links with Philippine First Insurance to provide surety bond protection program for its online gaming players

DigiPlus links with Philippine First Insurance to provide surety bond protection program for its online gaming players

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 17:03

Leading Philippines eGames provider DigiPlus Interactive Corp has inked a deal with domestic insurance company Philippine First Insurance Co. Inc  to introduce what it describes as the Philippines’ first-ever surety bond program for online gaming players. Taking effect immediately, the...

10 Years Ago – Reimagining Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan cabinet approves budget proposal to increase betting levy, double casino entry for locals

by Newsdesk
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:27

The Sri Lankan cabinet has approved a proposal in the country’s 2025 budget that will see the betting levy increased and casino entry fee for locals doubled. According to a report by local business media outlet Economy Next, Cabinet Spokesman...

CDC Gaming announces reimagined Day Zero Party including “10 Women Rising in Gaming” presentation at Resorts World Las Vegas’ Allē Lounge on 66, on 5 October 2025, the Sunday prior to G2E

CDC Gaming announces reimagined Day Zero Party including “10 Women Rising in Gaming” presentation at Resorts World Las Vegas’ Allē Lounge on 66, on 5 October 2025, the Sunday prior to G2E

by Newsdesk
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:08

CDC Gaming, the premier source of news, commentary and analysis for the gaming industry in the Americas and sister company to Inside Asian Gaming, has announced a revamped, reimagined and refreshed Day Zero Party ahead of this year’s Global Gaming...

Wynn says UAE development contribution to total around US$900 million as Thailand opportunity looms large

Cryptocurrency payments, smart table rollout across all games among technology innovations being planned at Wynn Al Marjan Island

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:01

Wynn Al Marjan Island is looking to open with smart gaming tables installed across all or most of its gaming areas and payment options that include cryptocurrencies, the company has revealed. David Patent, Executive Vice President, Gaming Operations at Wynn’s...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 日本語

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 日本語
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • English
  • 日本語