Sega Sammy Holdings is seeking the “most appropriate partner” to bid for a casino resort licence in Japan.

As many as three casino resorts will be permitted across the country in the first wave of liberalisation. The Japanese company’s comments were included in a presentation published last week and linked to the group’s second quarter results.

In the presentation, Sega Sammy’s management said it expected the bidding process for a casino licence in Japan to “commence in 2019 at the earliest and in 2020 at the latest. We would prepare for formulating plans in line with such timing, including announcing partners.”