Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING JUNE 2018 8 Japan worth the hype www.asgam.com I T would be an understatement for me to describe the 2018 Japan Gaming Congress as an eye opener – and I don’t mean the copious amounts of alcohol Tokyo’s office workers religiously consume on a Friday night out in the city! As strangely entertaining as it was to see so many suits literally stumbling out of local bars at the end of a long week, the more telling cultural experience was talking to local politicians and stakeholders to garner their opinions on all aspects of Japan’s IR industry. What surprised me most given the global media focus on local opposition to Japanese casinos was just how positive – not to mention how well-read on the issue – those politicians supporting the nation’s IR push really are. From members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to those representing its coalition partner Komeito and various independents, Japan’s key political identities expressed genuine enthusiasmwhen asked about the IR Implementation Bill currently before parliament. Just as encouraging were discussions with representatives of regional IR candidates who, for the most part, have a clear understanding of the benefits an IR could bring to their local communities – not to mention some impressive IR concepts to put forward once the bidding process starts in earnest. When it comes to operators, we’ve heard plenty about the appeal of global giants like Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts – all of whom have promised to invest significant resources into Japan should they win a license – but there are some intriguing alternatives out there. South Africa’s Peermont Group is already deep in discussions over a regional IR in Nagasaki while US tribal casino operators Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment and Foxwoods present highly attractive cases for what they can bring to the table. Check out our cover story for more insight in that regard. As we all know, the Japan story is only going to get bigger over the next 12 months. At the time of writing this editorial, Japan’s House of Representatives had just passed the government’s gambling addiction bill while it seems likely the current Diet session will now be extended into early July to ensure the IR bill is passed as well. In other words, the time for Japanese casinos has finally arrived. I suspect it has been worth the wait. Ben Blaschke Managing Editor We crave your feedback. Please email your comments to bb@asgam.com. EDITORIAL