Japan to require casino resorts to have unprecedentedly big hotels

Wow, limited advertising and rather imposing restrictions. It is going to be rather hard for the Japanese to compete with Macau and others!

People at least want the illusion that they can win it big at a casino, but with overhead costs like the one's these investors are going to have to take on just to build these monstrosities, let alone land costs, and everything else, and limited advertising opportunities, there is no way ANYONE is ever going to hit it big!

A little cart before the horse, isn't it? Sounds like a recipe for big elephant projects and money losers if the don't attract a mass amount of people.

Doesn't seem like the J gov learned anything at all from the 80s bubble burst.

@Yubaru- Macau casinos cannot advertise the gambling aspect AT ALL. Check out their websites, no photos or mention of gaming. Just restaurants, spas entertainment. Of course everyone knows there are gambling areas.

What a complicated, confusing muddle this is turning out to be. I don't want to pay ¥6,000 yen to stand uncomfortably in an empty space. I get that to be on par with the norm things have to be larger and on a level of service and convenience that is generally lacking at the moment. But making it law rather then letting market forces decide, a disaster looms.

I can sense a certain president from a distant land maybe pushing his own agenda here.

I can sense a certain president from a distant land maybe pushing his own agenda here.

I think it's already been pushed. Look for Sheldon Adelson, who bought Trump (purported to be 'too rich to be bought' harhar SMH) with millions in campaign contributions, to be involved in casino development here. Along with Jared etal as 'silent' partners? https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/08/sheldon-adelson-trump-middle-east-policy

https://www.vox.com/world/2018/10/10/17959096/trump-adelson-casino-japan-pro-publica

I'm looking at this from a different point of view. I think the government fears these companies throwing up these casinos with little or no infrastructure or anything around it with a cheap APA hotel nearby, just to rake in the casino earnings. We already have enough of these places, and they are called Pachinko parlors. What they want them to build are resorts with convention type facilities that will draw more than just gamblers and have many different uses. I have no problem with that as long as there is no government involvement.

Once you put all of that together, you have to imagine there might only be a few places where this would make any sense, particularly if they are targeting non-Japanese guests for the casino itself.

Literally, it would be Tokyo, Kansai, maybe Fukuoka...

I am reminded of that HUGE complex in Miyazaki, Seagaia, and how things went for it.

Why? Why does this have to be so big? Why is the Japanese government so convinced that there is massive demand for some theoretical Japanese casino somewhere in the country? Why would a local government have to shoulder any cost for what should be a completely private endeavor? Why does the government think that foreigners will suddenly flock to gamble to Japan instead of dozens of other more established areas around the globe? Why should we think of this as anything than yet another giveaway to to well-connected, giant construction firms?

There's absolutely huge risk in building an oversized casino that nobody really wants, all in the name of doing "something" to revitalize the local economy. I don't like any of this. In 20 years this could very easily be a hollowed-out shell, joining the ranks of other 80s bubble-era disasters.

Of course it's mainly to attract Chinese gamblers who will continue to visit in droves and get free entry. The 6,000 yen entry fee for Japanese residents backs this up too.

The government is attempting to compete with regional rivals including Macau, Singapore and South Korea

Dreams are free! The South Korean casinos are not very popular with tourists. They are mostly frequented by locals, who don’t have to pay an entrance fee nor do they have limits on the amount of visits per month. Macau and Singapore have a lot more to offer. Singapore has the location and Macau has the beaches. Osaka has yanky boys and bosozoku.

This whole casino plan is destined to fail. There is a point where micro-management becomes overcomplication, which always leads to a fail.

Do the hustle, not sure what Korea you are talking about, but there is only one casinos locals are able to enter, so your first point is off. And I know lots of Japanese who travel there just to gamble as it’s close, they cater to the Japanese and Chinese clients.

As for Japan’s casinos, I have no problem with them being big and comfortable. What is the biggest complaint most foreigners have when visiting Japan? The rooms are too small. So hopefully this will entice more people to visit.

There is no need for ANY taxpayer money or local government money to spend on these projects. If the Sands, Wynn, MGM, and other entertainment/gambling empires want to build them, let them do it with their own money! They'll also probably use their cheap imported staff for the work. And most of the proposed great economic impact will flow back to their head offices, it's just air-talk to try to influence people. Just read The Impact of Stadium and Professional Sports on Metropolitan Areas by RA Baade, who totally shatters the myth of the benefits these projects bring, and outlines the negative impact on the local area.

The business infrastructures in Singapore, Macau, and South Korea where these megavenues currently lie are quite different to Japan, so expect a lot of opaque consulting fees to get things done, just like the 2020 games, and the pachinko king Okada as he tried to set things up in the Philippines and Osaka.

Note that these buildings lead to an increase in MICE work (Meetings Incentives Conferences Exhibitions), so you can expect resistance from the current Japanese venues and vendors, who will lose business to them.

Please - do not 'invest' Japan's pension fund in these facilities - it would be a very bad bet.

Will they be open 24 hours and give free drinks like in Vegas?

They'll need to be open 24 hours in order to pay off the debt required to build such a place!

This is the Government's way of Legalising something but making it prohibitively expensive to realize.

I wonder if some pressure came from the Packinko Parlor operators too... as I doubt they are going to be subjected to these rules - on the other hand.