Some of Japan’s top business leaders are supporting the expected bill to legalise casino resorts.
Takeshi Niinami, CEO of Lawson, Japan’s second largest convenience store chain, and Shingo Torii, executive vice president of Suntory Holdings, the country’s third biggest brewer, are among the group backing legalisation. The group will work with the Diet and local governments in designing and supporting legislation.
The most recent expectations are that legislation would allow at least four casinos, one each in Tokyo and Osaka, and two elsewhere, though some observers think as many as 10 casinos might be allowed over time. At least some required local ownership is also expected.
Las Vegas Sands has recently been mentioned in some reports as the favourite for a Tokyo casino. That would leave other major companies competing for Osaka. Combined, the two cities are estimated to be able to generate as much as $20bn a year in gaming revenues.
Other companies very interested are Wynn, Caesars, MGM Resorts, Melco Crown, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, SJM and a number of Japanese pachinko and industrial companies.
