MGM announced the 2020 plan in early January. The goal is to increase annual adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) by $200 million over the next two years, and an additional $100 million by the end of 2021.<\/p>\n
The bottom line is if they\u2019re aware of it, it\u2019s about making MGM a stronger, more nimble company, and it\u2019s actually going to benefit our work in Japan,\u201d Sandoval was quoted by the Las Vegas Review-Journal<\/em>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\u201cI\u2019ve been to Japan four times, and I haven\u2019t been asked once about MGM 2020,\u201d Sandoval added.<\/p>\n
MGM Layoffs May Impact Service Levels<\/h2>\n
But analysts who follow the gaming sector see both pluses and minuses from the layoffs and how they are viewed by government officials in Japan. Analysts praised the company for its transparency and note how the internal strategy provides MGM with more money for the Japan initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it would be a sticking point for a Japanese regulator,\u201d John DeCree of Las Vegas-based Union Gaming, was quoted by the Review-Journal<\/em>.<\/p>\nChad Beynon, a Washington- based analyst with Australia\u2019s Macquarie Group Ltd., also told the newspaper, \u201cIt certainly sounds like you\u2019re talking out of both sides of your mouth if you\u2019re firing 1,000 people in a service industry and you don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to affect any service levels.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last month, MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren said, \u201cI stand behind the decisions we have made and believe them necessary to assure our future, but I deeply regret the impacts they have on individuals and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n
Japan Could Become Second Largest Market<\/h2>\n
The Japan gaming market may generate more than $25 billion annually. Early estimates predict Japan could become the second-largest gaming market following only China\u2019s Macau.<\/p>\n
Altogether, Japan is likely to grant three licenses nationally for integrated casino resorts and will issue additional requirements later this year. Osaka is seen as a likely spot for one of the venues.<\/p>\n
Osaka likely wants the venue to be opened when the World Expo 2025 will be held \u2014 between May 3 to November 3, 2025 \u2013on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay. Yet, it may take a longer time to plan, review and construct the gaming venue.<\/p>\n
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MGM and Las Vegas Sands are two likely contenders for the license in the Osaka market. Altogether, seven gaming operators submitted preliminary information to gain a license in Osaka<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nEach of the seven sent in early request-for-concept (RFC) documents before the deadline of May 24. The city\u2019s mayor, Ichiro Matsui, has not identified the names of the interested parties, GGRAsia<\/em> reported.<\/p>\nThe next step in the process is operators submitting more documents and an initial review — which is likely to be finished in August, followed by three months when local government leaders will discuss the proposals.\u00a0The decision on which casino operator to partner with is likely to be made in the early part of 2020.<\/p>\n
The documents will offer details on a large hotel, exhibition space, the capacity to host major conventions, and features that will help promote tourism. Proposals also include information on how operators plan to limit problem gambling and other harms to the local community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Layoffs at MGM Resorts International may help — not hurt — the operator capture one of three coveted gaming licenses up for grabs in Japan, company officials said. Brian Sandoval, the ex-Nevada governor and former judge and state Attorney General who is president of global gaming development for the company, said the reduction in labor […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":106526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,33810],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
MGM Could Be More Appealing to Japan\u2019s Regulators Overseeing Venue Licensing Because of Layoffs - Casino.org MGM Could Be More Appealing to Japan\u2019s Regulators Overseeing Venue Licenses Because of Layoffs<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n