Former U.S. bases eyed for resorts
The prefectural government of Okinawa is stepping away from a plan to attract integrated casino resorts, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun has reported. Since 2007, the government has conducted research into casino projects, and about JPY86.4 million (US$572,000) was earmarked for the studies through the fiscal year, reported Stars and Stripes. But no funds have been set aside for the coming year, reported the Macau Daily News.
Island Governor Takeshi Onaga, who assumed office in December, is not a fan of casinos, which are still illegal in Japan. Supporters of the plan hoped casinos, which could have been built at former U.S. military bases, would stoke the regional economy, employing some 54,000 people and generating an estimated JPY219 billion ($US1.84 billion) in revenues.
“It could have a negative impact on the tourism industry, which has been doing well thanks to the influence of soft power including nature, history and traditional culture,” Onaga said. He added that gambling addiction is “also a concern.”
Gaming companies including the Las Vegas Sands Corp., Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International had expressed interest in investing in Okinawa. And according to GGRAsia, a 2014 survey from Japanese PR agency Hakuhodo Inc. indicated that the prefecture, a summer vacation spot for Japanese and international tourists, was the second most popular location for a casino in Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to legalize casinos as part of the country’s economic growth strategy, popularly known as “Abenomics.” His reelection in December has casino supporters hoping the bill may yet be approved, possibly by the end of the year, Kazuaki Sasaki, assistant professor at Nihon University College of Economics, told GGRAsia in December.
The legalization of casinos in Japan would be a two-step process, reported Bloomberg. An enabling bill would permit casino resorts. An implementation law would include the specifics, including how the resorts are administered and regulated.
As the situation unfolds, the Las Vegas Sands Corp. could decide to can’t build in South Korea instead, reported casino.org. The firm has already talked about building an “iconic” resort in Seoul that could be open to residents as well as foreigners.
