Nagasaki to establish an IR in 2024

Nagasaki, a Japanese province where atomic bomb was infamously used in the Second World War, could be hosting an integrated casino resort by 2024. The prefectural government’s IR Promotion Office has decided to form a “review committee” shortly for the purpose. The committee will comprise ten legal and financial experts who would select the prefecture’s operator partner.

There are about 20 operators interested in bidding for a project, the Nagasaki government says. One operator in particular is potentially interested in investing €3.2 billion in a Huis Ten Bosch-linked development.

Besides Nagasaki, Osaka is one of the front-runners for an IR licence (but in the short term) and, according to experts, a potential venue would have a great impact in the region’s economy.

Japanese brokerage Nomura assessed that the Osakan economy would be boosted hugely by a potential IR bid win, as well as if the region wins the bid to host the World Expo in 2025. “A win for both the World Expo bid and the casino licence would be expected to boost investment returns and have a positive impact on Osaka’s economy,” the brokerage said in a recent note.