Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JAPAN MAY 2019 56 MGM is considered to be the current favorite to win the Osaka IR bid MGMは現在、大阪IR入札を勝ち取る最有力候補と見られている JAPAN The project was temporarily put on hold for the election campaign, but Osaka wasted no time after that, announcing its public offering conditions on 24 April 2019. They will accept specific concepts from operators from 25 April until August. Procedures have already begun to establish an Operator Selection Committee, which will be responsible for this task. The Osaka IR Promotion Office has already received over 200 submissions and questions from operators regarding the conditions for IR business and development. At the “Integrated Resort Industry Expo” to be held on 15 and 16 May at Intex Osaka we will start to see some of the executives of major IR operators making an appearance in Osaka. There will also be no shortage of business opportunities at the Japan Gaming Congress in Tokyo on 16 and 17 May. MGM A FOREGONE CONCLUSION? The big question everyone is now asking is: What will be the decisive factor in determining the winning IR bids? It is by now well-known that overseas operators must forma consortiumwith local businesses toenter any bids. What the government is looking for in an IR is a “facility with enhanced appeal” and “the ability to pass customers off to local attractions.” Japan is using Singapore as a reference and in that case, these criteria were considered to be of greater significance than the scale of investment itself. Marina Bay Sands, operated by Las Vegas Sands, and Resorts World Sentosa, operated by Genting Singapore, made successful bids with a tourist facility and business contribution of 40 and 45 points respectively in their tender bids. The facility concept and design comprised 30 and 25 points, making up 70% of the total. It is natural that those involved in Japan’s IRs will assume this is where the victors will be determined The big players in this battle are MGM Resorts and their local partner Orix. In late March it was revealed that the two had formed a consortium, with MGM now widely considered to be a red hot favorite to win the Osaka bid.