Operator News

Japan – Five partnerships to compete for Nagasaki licence

By Phil - 2 February 2021

The Japanese coastal city of Nagasaki has confirmed it has had five responses to its request-for-proposal (RFP) process for companies interested in developing an Integrated Resort casino at the Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Sasebo city with one of the groups still to be named.

Nagasaki Vice-Governor Ken Hirata said the required investment needed would be between US$3.2bn to US$4.2bn.

The four confirmed companies are a partnership between French casino operator Partouche and Japanese energy company Pixel Companyz, who would work with renowned architect Paul Steelman to design their project.

Also confirmed is Casinos Austria International who said its project could include a Viennese Philharmonic Orchestra as a permanent fixture. The casino spa would have a special emphasis on state-of-the-art medical treatment.

Hong Kong-listed Get Nice Holdings, former operator of the Macau’s Grand Waldo, has teamed up with Japan’s Current Corporation for an IR featuring ‘hotels, casinos, restaurants, shops, entertainment facilities and convention centers with approximately 400,000 square meters total floor area.’
The fourth candidate was named last week as a partnership between Oshidori International Development Godogaisha, a Japanese company, and US operator Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment.

The identity of the fifth candidate is not known. The process will now see the five operating groups whittled down to three by mid-March with the aim of naming the chosen operator by August.

Vice-Governor Hirata said: “Nagasaki’s IR site is next to the Huis Ten Bosch theme park, which has been in operation for over 20 years. Their business operation will of course be independent from the IR, but there are merits for investing to develop an area that is next to an existing tourist site.”
He added: “The proposal should include various ways to expand tourism. Tourism in the Kyushu region and western Japan should be addressed, contributing to the local economy by purchasing local ingredients and products.”

Only four locations have so far officially put themselves forward for an IR in Japan with Nagasaki in competition with Osaka, Wakayama and Yokohama with one of those set to miss out.

Caption: Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Nagasaki