Operator News
Japan – Chiba pulls out of race for casino licence
By Phil - 8 January 2020
The Japanese city of Chiba has pulled the plug on any involvement in the race for one of three casino licences to be awarded in Japan, saying it would instead focus on rebuilding following natural disasters.
Chiba Mayor Toshihito Kumagai said: “Campaigning to host an IR would take a lot of energy at a time when we need to place our top priority on post-disaster reconstruction and restoration.”
Chiba is located about 40 kilometres southeast of the centre of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. It recently completed an RFI process that attracted eight blueprints for future casinos in the Makuhari district with two proposals from local companies and six from other Japanese or international casino groups.
The mayor added that the move to come out of the race was not related to a bribery scandal involving former state minister in charge of the government’s casino resort policy.
The Japanese government has now established the Casino Administration Committee to regulate and supervise casinos to be opened in the country. It is made up of a Chairman, former Fukuoka High Prosecutor’s Attorney General Michio Katamura, and four other members. The body will hold its first meeting on January 10.
