Operatörsnyheter
Japan – Osakas borgmästare säger att COVID-19 har försenat potentiell IR-lansering till 2027
By phil - 5 juni 2020
If the Japanese city of Osaka wins one of the three coveted Integrated Resort casino licences it won’t be ready to open it until at least 2027, maybe even 2028.
Officials in Osaka want to build a casino on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay.
The admittance came from Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui who blamed the coronavirus pandemic for the two year delay. The government had hoped to have a casino fully operational by start of the 2025 World Expo.
The pandemic delayed meetings between Osaka’s candidate consortium, MGM Resorts Japan and Orix.
Mayor Matsui said: “I have received a message from the operator asking for a short extension. The investment capacity of the operator has taken a blow, and we will consider this when we are determining an opening time. I can foresee an overall delay of between one and two years. We think the central government is considering extending the application period (for local governments).”
Både Genting Singapore och Galaxy Entertainment har dragit sig ur loppet till och en kasino IR-licens i Osaka, vilket lämnar MGM Resorts och dess lokala partner Orix i ensam position om Osaka Prefectural Government tilldelas en licens.
Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment och Wynn Resorts har alla tidigare lämnat Osaka-loppet för att istället fokusera på potentiella projekt i Yokohama.
Galaxy och dess partner Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer hade nyligen slutfört en omfattande ansökan om koncept (RFC) och genomförd studie i Osaka innan de valde att dra sig ur.
