“For Melco, partnerships are part of our DNA, and are fundamental to every single project we’ve ever done,” Ho explained. “For Japan, it’s even more important to have great partners who can educate us on how to be culturally harmonious and have the best possible bid.”<\/p>\n
\n
One of the prized potential partners is presumed to be Sega Sammy. The company was formed in 2004 when Sega Games, a video game developer and publisher, merged with Sammy, a manufacturer of pachinko machines. The corporation is headquartered in Japan, and has publicly expressed its desire to partner with a casino operator for an IR license.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
While casino operators are working to reach consortiums with Japanese companies, they’re also trying to show their commitment to the country in other ways. MGM Resorts sent the Blue Man Group to perform during Osaka’s summer festival, and Melco sponsored a fireworks show at the same celebration.<\/p>\n
Ho also made a $450,000 donation to victims of a July earthquake that rattled Osaka. Along with Yokohama, Osaka is a presumed leading candidate host city for an IR.<\/p>\n
Regulatory Specifics<\/b><\/h2>\n
Once the Japanese gaming control board forms, it will be tasked with deciding on an assortment of critical issues related to the liberalized commercial gaming industry. There has been plenty of speculation regarding what that regulatory environment might entail.<\/p>\n
In September, a government official said junkets, which play a critical role in Macau in bringing wealthy mainlanders from China to the gaming enclave, won’t be permitted in Japan.<\/strong><\/p>\nSources close to the Office of Integrated Resort Regime Promotion additionally leaked this week that gamblers who purchase \u00a5300,000 ($2,667) of gaming chips will likely be required to present identification.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Melco Resorts billionaire Lawrence Ho believes the highly anticipated bidding process for Japan’s three integrated casino resorts will formally commence in 2019. Ho, whose Hong Kong-based company is one of the six licensed casino operators in Macau, told Bloomberg this week that he believes the Japanese government will establish its gaming control board in July. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":93979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,18,61,13592],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Melco Resorts CEO Lawrence Ho Says Japan Bidding Could Start in 2019<\/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