Summary:
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said it’s difficult to make a decision by the end of the calendar year on proposals by Osaka and Nagasaki to create an integrated resort with a casino. The resorts’ planned openings in 2029 for Osaka and 2027 for Nagasaki could be delayed.
According to a central government official quoted on Thursday, it seems difficult for Japan’s national authorities to make a decision by the end of the calendar year on Osaka and Nagasaki’s proposals to create an integrated resort with a casino.
The main national opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, made comments at a meeting with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism about the approval of the IR District Development Plans.
The news outlet said that a delay beyond year-end could put back the openings of such resorts in Osaka and Nagasaki.
Several Osaka MPs have recently pressed senior national government figures to expedite the approval of Osaka’s plan.
MGM Resorts International, part of the proposed private-sector partner for a JPY1.08-billion (US$7.91) billion at current exchange rates) casino resort, had previously mentioned the possibility of a decision by this autumn.
The national authorities had asked for more information about the site of the artificial island in Osaka Bay, according to the mayor of Osaka.
Local-government representatives in Nagasaki have been pressing the authorities there to give more information about the funding for the project.
The governor of Osaka was quoted on Thursday as saying that the city had originally planned for a huge amount of Chinese tourists to come. The scheme would be perfectly viable without the Chinese tourists, as the situation had changed.
China’s restrictions on outbound travel by its own citizens as a Covid-19 countermeasure was cited as a factor by the official.
China has a policy of enforcement action against what it terms “cross-border” gambling by its citizens, and has threatened to place on a watch list any jurisdiction that actively solicits its citizens to gamble.