Sorry, Did We Say Casino?<\/strong><\/h2>\nGastwirth,\u00a0who returned from meetings in Japan last week, believes that the Las Vegas-style celebrity residency system could be the key to winning Japanese hearts and minds and creating a \u201ctrue destination resort.\u201d<\/p>\n
For many Japanese, integrated resorts mean \u201ccasino,\u201d conjuring up images of the social problems that have been generated by the growth of the pachinko market over the past few decades. Many are still unaware of the family-oriented non-gaming amenities that will dominate the resorts.<\/p>\n
Gastwirth\u00a0confirmed in an interview with Asian Gaming Review<\/em> this week that he had initiated discussions with Japanese talent and celebrity agencies with an eye towards establishing residencies at a future performance theater at a Caesars integrated resort in Japan.<\/p>\n“Our pitch to the market has been that we are entertainment first,\u201d he said, adding that \u201centertainment is the leading driver of trips to Las Vegas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caesars\u00a0<\/strong>Shtick<\/b><\/h2>\nCaesars model involves \u201cA-list\u201d performers — currently the likes of Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and Gwen Stefani — playing theaters with capacities of around 4,000 to 5,000 several times a week, which allows for more intimate shows.<\/p>\n
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Caesars, known as Harrahs at the time, chose not to bid on one of six gaming concessions in Macau when its gaming monopoly ended in 2002. Then, in 2006, it turned down the chance to buy Wynn Resorts\u2019 sub-license, thereby missing out on a slice of the world\u2019s biggest casino market.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It was a catastrophic decision. While Macau sustained its competitors through the financial meltdown of 2008, Caesars struggled with billions in debt on their balance sheets and a poorly performing domestic casino market.<\/p>\n
The company is determined not to make the same mistake twice. But with only a smattering of licenses up for grabs, and competing international operators willing to spend billions to secure a foothold in the market, it needs to convince prospective Japanese partners that its particular approach to showbiz is the only one that matters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Caesars President of Entertainment Jason Gastwirth has hinted that his company\u2019s approach to wooing the impending Japanese casino market will center on bringing big stars to the stage to drive traffic, just as it has successfully done in Las Vegas for decades. The Japanese public has consistently been against the introduction of integrated resorts \u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":81830,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,3313,13,18],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Caesars Believes Big Stars and Showbiz are Key to Japanese Bid<\/title>\n\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