Nagasaki Launches IR Briefings as Planned, Wakayama Facing Delays

November 23, 2021 Emerging Markets Industry Updates

Japan’s plan to bring integrated resorts (IR) and casino gambling to the country is moving forward. However, there are still plenty of hurdles that have to be crossed. Nagasaki and Wakayama are making progress with their IR projects, although not without some difficulty.

Nagasaki Has a Clear Vision
A briefing session was held for local businesses on November 18 in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture. At this event, potential IR operator Casinos Austria International Japan (CAIJ) participated, explaining some of its plans. The Sasebo Chamber of Commerce and Industry held the briefing. More than 1,000 people attended from local companies. Some were from outside the prefecture. Officials from local governments also participated.

According to NHK reports, Akio Hayashi, the president of the CAIJ, was also present at the briefing. He asserted during the meeting, “Because the casino image comes first, there are those in support and in opposition, but what we are aiming for is regional revitalization. We will do our best to win this national project and make a contribution for everyone.”

Prefectural officials stressed the economic ripple effects of attracting international and domestic tourists, as well as the boost to local employment in order to develop a casino, large-scale MICE facility, and hotel.

The CAIJ and the prefecture will prepare an area development plan to be submitted to the central government by April 28, 2022. The national government plans to approve a maximum number of three locations for an IRC.