Industry
September 28, 2021
MGM Resorts Wins a Race in Which It Was the Only Participant
It’s almost impossible to lose a race in which you’re the only competitor, so it’s likely that MGM Resorts International wasn’t too concerned about not being selected as a casino operator for Osaka, Japan. The prefecture is hoping to win approval to host an integrated resort (IR) and, leading up to the close of the […]
Industry
September 24, 2021
Nagasaki’s IR Growth Plans Depend on Local Traffic, Not Foreign Tourism
One of the main reasons Japan has been trying for more than two decades to bring integrated resorts (IR) and casino gambling to the country is to promote international tourism. The tourism industry always means big money for any country that manages it properly, and Japan’s government finally convinced enough people that introducing IRs was […]
Industry
September 13, 2021
The Asian Casino Sector Gets Its Own Awards Program
The integrated resort (IR) casino sector is getting its own awards program. The IR Academy Awards are coming for the first time next month, hosted by the Academy of Integrated Resorts and Gaming Executives in Asia. The Academy was formed by Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) at the beginning of this year, and was created to […]
Legal
September 7, 2021
Japanese Lawmaker Accused of Accepting Bribes in IR Scheme Heads to Jail
The idea of bringing integrated resorts (IR) to Japan to allow casino gambling has been tossed around for more than 20 years. However, it wasn’t until a few years ago that the plan gained enough traction for it to be accepted. The entire time, opponents argued that bringing casinos into the country would only lead […]
Casino
August 27, 2021
Wakayama, Clairvest Cement Partnership for Integrated Resort
Even as there is still a lot of concern about the future of integrated resorts (IR) in Japan, one location determined to be among the first to host casino gambling isn’t slowing down. The Wakayama prefecture has finalized its negotiations with its selected casino operator, a consortium led by Clairvest Neem Ventures, to bid for […]
Industry
August 26, 2021
Japan Might Not Initially Approve Three IRS as Previously Expected
Several years ago, when Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) found enough support for its plan to introduce integrated resorts (IR) to the country, excitement was very high. Casino operators from around the world immediately jumped at the opportunity to be part of the new market, with most larger – and a few smaller – […]
Industry
August 23, 2021
Yokohama Set to Officially Drop from Japan IR Race as New Mayor Steps In
After spending the past two years preparing to compete for one of the first three integrated resort (IR) properties in Japan, Yokohama is bowing out. Despite millions of dollars having been invested and several high-profile casino operators in the running, the city’s efforts to host an IR have come to an abrupt end. A new […]
Industry
August 19, 2021
Nagasaki May Have Been Playing Games with IR Candidates All Along
In any competition, there is always a winner and loser and it’s not uncommon to find the losers lashing out, sometimes throwing wild accusations of cheating or fraud. In the Nagasaki integrated resort (IR) race in Japan, those accusations began even before the contest was over and they’re not slowing down. If anything, they’re developing […]
Business
August 12, 2021
Casinos Austria Reveals Nagasaki IR Plans
Casinos Austria is now officially the casino partner of Nagasaki as the prefecture looks to be one of the first three locations in Japan to host an integrated resort (IR). That selection was revealed earlier this week, and the casino operator is now ready to dig in and help the prefecture’s dream become a reality. […]
Industry
August 10, 2021
And the Winner Is: Nagasaki Chooses Its Integrated Resort Partner
The battle for control of Nagasaki’s integrated resort (IR) is almost over. The prefecture has announced who it has chosen as its operator partner, although its possible that the decision might be contested. The conclusion of the selection process was not devoid of some unexpected twists, but it is now in the books and Nagasaki […]