• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Sunday 1 June 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
  • 中文
  • 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
  • 中文
  • 日本語
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

SPECIAL REPORT: Where to now for Nagasaki and Casinos Austria? (part 2)

Andrew W Scott by Andrew W Scott
Tue 14 Sep 2021 at 05:05
Japan’s Current Inc predicts annual Nagasaki IR sales of US$3.7 billion

Nagasaki

35
SHARES
873
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Nagasaki Prefecture signed a basic agreement with Casinos Austria International Japan (CAIJ) on 30 August for the development of an integrated resort at Huis Ten Bosch at Sasebo City, Nagasaki. But the process has been controversial to say the least, with both of CAIJ’s rival bidders crying foul on the decision.

In this five-part special report running Monday to Friday this week, we take a closer look at Casinos Austria and speculate on what might happen from here on the road to creating Nagasaki’s first ever integrated resort.

Mon 13 Sep 2021        Part 1: Introduction and background
Tue 14 Sep 2021         Part 2: IR operational capabilities
Wed 15 Sep 2021        Part 3: Financial capacity
Thu 16 Sep 2021         Part 4: Meeting Japan’s expectations
Fri 17 Sep 2021           Part 5: Conclusions and challenges

PART 2: IR OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES
Today let’s look at the actual physical IR that we’re likely to see in Nagasaki, and the capability of Casinos Austria to run such a resort.

Both of CAIJ’s fellow bidders, Oshidori and NIKI, have released a range of renderings of their proposed projects, with 10 images of Oshidori’s “The Sails at Omura Bay” project released here, and eight images of NIKI’s IR proposal released here. Both appear to be in the league of the serious multi-billion US dollar projects we’ve come to expect in Asia – comparable to the 20 or so modern day integrated resorts which have been created in the past two decades in Macau’s Cotai, Entertainment City in Manila, and Singapore.

Conversely, we’ve only seen two images of the as-yet-unnamed IR offering from CAIJ. The first, shown below, was published in a press release from CAIJ in their website, which was hastily withdrawn hours later. However, in the brief time it was online it was copied by numerous media outlets (including IAG) and is now widely available across the internet on industry media websites. This same image was also released by Nagasaki prefecture themselves when announcing the signing of the agreement with Casinos Austria, on 30 August.

A second rendering, shown below, was also published by Nagasaki prefecture as part of the 30 August announcement.

These are the only two renderings which have been released publicly. IAG contacted CAIJ some weeks ago asking if they would release more renderings, as Oshidori and NIKI did, but we were told they would not until the basic agreement was signed. That agreement was signed some 15 days ago, but despite several further requests from IAG, Casinos Austria has still not released any more renderings or information.

Does CAIJ have the track record and the capability to run a multi-billion US dollar modern-day Asian-style integrated resort? Consider the price tag mentioned by Nagasaki prefecture on their 30 August announcement – JPY 350 billion (US$3.2 billion). This amount is “only” about US$1 billion shy of the most expensive integrated resorts ever built in Asia – Wynn Macau and Marina Bay Sands. It is almost US$1 billion more than the cost of the behemoth Venetian Macao. These integrated resorts have thousands of rooms, hundreds of gaming tables, thousands of slot machines, 100 or more F&B outlets and up to hundreds of retail outlets. Their scale is nothing short of stupendous.

By contrast, as outlined in the July cover story of IAG, the nearest thing to an IR Casinos Austria International has ever run is the Reef Casino in Cairns, Australia, with around 40 tables, 500 slot machines and 127 hotel rooms. Most of their properties in Europe do not have hotels attached, and according to CAI’s own figures supplied to IAG, they average just 10 gaming tables and 147 slot machines per gaming property around the world.

In their defense, it must be noted that Casinos Austria is a long-standing and experienced casino company with a history going back to the 1960s. But it is a history of running very small-scale European clubs, nothing like the modern-day IRs to be found in Macau, the Philippines, Singapore or Las Vegas.

A PWC paper published in 2016 and entitled “Is Europe Ready for Integrated Resort Casinos?” comically reported the total number of integrated resorts in Europe as “zero”. Nothing has changed since 2016. Yes, there is a Resorts World in Birmingham, but its hotel has less than 200 rooms. Yes, Melco is building an IR in Cyprus, but it isn’t open yet. As of 2021 there are still no integrated resorts in Europe and the reality is that Casinos Austria, while they have indeed operated very many small European style club casinos over many decades, has zero IR experience.

They will need to learn fast.

Tomorrow in part 3 we examine issues of the financial capacity needed to create the Nagasaki IR.

RelatedPosts

Japan’s Dynam reopens 101 pachinko halls after some closure requests lifted

Dynam Japan continues pachinko hall rationalization as revenues fall again in FY25

Tue 27 May 2025 at 06:45
Two-day Japan IR Online Forum to start today

Japanese said to have gambled US$45 billion on illegal overseas betting sites in 2024

Fri 23 May 2025 at 05:51
Okada Manila recognizes Earth Hour with eco-friendly initiatives

Japan’s Universal falls to US$52 million loss in 1Q25, outlines plan to promote new online gaming platform at Okada Manila

Thu 15 May 2025 at 05:56
Sega Sammy’s FY25 sales hit by decline in pachinko but new gaming segment shows promise

Sega Sammy’s FY25 sales hit by decline in pachinko but new gaming segment shows promise

Tue 13 May 2025 at 05:54
Load More
Tags: Casinos AustriaHuis Ten BoschirJapanNagasaki
Share14Share2
Andrew W Scott

Andrew W Scott

Born in Australia, Andrew is a gaming industry expert and media publisher, commentator and journalist who moved to Hong Kong in 2005 and then Macau in 2009, when he founded O MEDIA, one of Macau’s largest media companies, former and parent company of Inside Asian Gaming (IAG). Both O MEDIA and IAG were merged with US-based gaming media brand CDC Gaming on 1 January 2025, under new corporate parent Complete Media Group (CMG).

Andrew was appointed CEO of Complete Media Group upon the merger. CMG is now the parent of three gaming media brands: Inside Asian Gaming (focusing on land-based gaming in the Asia-Pacific region), CDC Gaming (focusing on land-based gaming in the Americas), and Complete iGaming (focusing on online gaming in the Americas and APAC).

Andrew continues to be Vice Chairman and CEO of IAG and now-sister company O MEDIA.

Current Issue

Editorial – Foreigner-only casinos: Seize the day

Editorial – Foreigner-only casinos: Seize the day

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 29 May 2025 at 13:38

I was recently asked by someone working at a foreigner-only casino for my thoughts on the outlook for the Asian...

On the brink

On the brink

by Pierce Chan
Thu 29 May 2025 at 13:27

The transition period for Macau’s 11 satellite casinos is set to expire at the end of this year, after which...

A moral defense of gambling

A moral defense of gambling

by Andrew Russell
Wed 28 May 2025 at 18:19

Economist Andrew Russell explores the differences between community benefit and in-principle arguments for the existence of a legal gambling industry...

Face to face

Face to face

by Ben Blaschke
Wed 28 May 2025 at 18:08

Konami caught the eye at the recent G2E Asia show in Macau with its SYNK Vision Tables, which utilize facial...

Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Mindslot
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
Nustar
Jumbo

Related Posts

10 Years Ago – Reimagining Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka gazettes draft bill to establish Gambling Regulatory Authority

by Newsdesk
Sat 31 May 2025 at 06:03

A draft bill that would establish an official regulator for the Sri Lankan gaming industry, to be known as the Gambling Regulatory Authority, has taken another step forward after being gazetted. According to the Sri Lanka Mirror, the official announcement...

RGB International signs agreement to distribute KL Saberi and Atlas gaming machines

After record-breaking sales in 2024, Malaysia’s RGB sees 1Q25 profit fall to

by Newsdesk
Sat 31 May 2025 at 05:53

Malaysian gaming product distributor RGB International Bhd has reported group-wide revenue of MYR73.6 million (US$17.3 million) for the three months to 31 March 2025, down 65% year-on-year due to a lower number of products sold. The figure was also 79%...

Robert Goldstein to step aside as LVS Chairman and CEO from March 2026, replaced by Patrick Dumont

Robert Goldstein: Macau gaming market challenged by increased competition, online gambling and US-Sino trade war

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 30 May 2025 at 06:42

Las Vegas Sands (LVS) Chairman and CEO Robert Goldstein has bemoaned the lingering impact of the US-China trade war, as well as increased domestic and regional competition and the rise of online gambling across Asia for sustained flatness in the...

Industry hopes Thai Entertainment Complex Roundtable can establish “common ground” with those opposing legal casinos

Industry hopes Thai Entertainment Complex Roundtable can establish “common ground” with those opposing legal casinos

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 30 May 2025 at 05:38

Industry figures taking part in the Thai Entertainment Complex Roundtable (TECR) next Thursday 5 June hope to find common ground with those who oppose Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill, citing the opportunity to use an evidence-based approach to achieve outcomes that...



IAG

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文
  • 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
  • 中文
  • 日本語
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English
  • 日本語