Operator News

Japan – Casinos Austria signs ‘basic agreement’ with Nagasaki Governor

By Phil - 31 August 2021

Casinos Austria International Japan (CAIJ) has now signed an official agreement, confirming it as Nagasaki prefecture’s preferred casino developer to build an integrated casino resort, alongside the existing Huis Ten Bosch theme park.

The casino will boast a 9,000 square meter gaming floor with 220 gaming tables and 2,200 slot machines ‘offering a gaming experience of the highest international standards.’ The project is also expected to feature eight hotels with conference and exhibition centres and entertainment complexes in cooperation with ‘reputable international partners such as the Hyatt Hotel Group as well as Japanese partners.’

Nagasaki Governor Hodo Nakamura said: “We have signed a basic agreement with Casinos Austria International Japan, formalizing the company as the facility construction and operator. CAIJ draws on its global business performance, including in Europe, providing a business proposal to realize the highest international standard of IR that is both traditional and luxurious, and in harmony with Huis Ten Bosch’s landscape. We will proceed with preparing the area development plan to apply for certification by the deadline of 28 April 2022.

“Moving forward, we will continue to take every measure to minimize concerns around problem gaming and we will focus on realizing a Kyushu/Nagasaki IR that will revitalize tourism industries and the local economy that have been badly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, revitalize the broader Kyushu region and, as a consequence, Japan,” he added.

Casinos Austria pitches the cost of the project at JPY 350bn (US$3.2bn) with the number of annual customers aiming at 8.4m. Under the concept of “Fusing East and West Cultures – Realizing a True Japanese-Western Blend”, Casinos Austria is aiming to ‘inherit the historical culture of Kyushu and Nagasaki, realizing a tourism industry revolution’ with a traditional high-end IR facility leveraging the strengths of the Austrian state-owned group and Nagasaki as a focus and aiming to be an international city where Kyushu, Japan, Asia and the world meet.’

Casinos Austria’s CEO Bettina Glatz-Kremsner said: “By passing this milestone in the award process in Japan, Casinos Austria International has once again demonstrated the kind of excellent reputation that the company enjoys abroad. After years of restructuring, CAI is back on track. Its know-how and expertise in the development and operation of such complex projects continue to be impressive. I wish Casinos Austria International, under Christoph Zurucker-Burda’s management, all the best and that they will be awarded one of the three licences next year, together with Nagasaki Prefecture.”

Akio Hayashi, President and CEO of CAIJ, added: “I am happy and, at the same time I am bracing myself. We will work closely with Nagasaki and other Kyushu prefectures as well as the local community to achieve an attractive Kyushu/Nagasaki IR that is safe and beneficial for the whole of the Kyushu region.”

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz added: “I am delighted that an Austrian company is taking an active part on the international stage. In particular, we have a very good political relationship with Japan. This is precisely why we offer our support for Austrian companies to succeed in the Japanese market. I am very pleased that CAI will be taking that step into Japan.”