Thailand is inching closer to the launch of legal casino gaming as the recent casino legislation continues to make strides. The measure, which would allow for the construction of resorts featuring casinos, was passed by a landslide by Thailand’s House of Representatives last week.

Overall, 253 representatives out of 257 House members voted in favor of the legislation, demonstrating the overwhelming support for casino gaming. As a result, the measure will now be able to reach the national cabinet.

Under the measure, up to eight licenses could be issued to casino developers. If approved, this legislation could create many opportunities in the region.

Additionally, experts believe that Thailand’s potential casino framework will feature lower tax rates, making it more appealing to international casino companies. The proposed GGR tax is low at 17% while the framework itself is expected to be similar to Singapore’s model. Furthermore, Thai casino licenses are expected to have 20-year terms and possible renewals every five years.

Experts expect Thailand to require casino companies to invest no more than $2.5-$3.5 billion in the region.

Thailand Could Beat Japan to It

Some believe that Thailand’s quick legislative strides could help it launch its first casino before Japan does. For reference, MGM Resorts is currently working on an integrated resort in Osaka, which is expected to open in 2030.

While Japan is technically still ahead when it comes to casinos, Thailand’s legislative efficiency could potentially lead to quick legalization and the rapid creation of a regulatory framework. As a result, Thailand’s first casino resort could potentially open before MGM’s property in Osaka.

Analysts’ rosiest predictions say that the first Thai gambling property could open its doors in 2029, giving the country a head start.

In terms of economic benefits, the casino resorts are expected to attract many foreign tourists, turning Thailand into an alternative to Macau and Singapore. Experts say that casinos could lead to a 52% uptick in tourism spending.

In terms of potential bidders, Thailand is expected to attract many of the most influential casino companies in the world. MGM Resorts is certainly following the latest developments closely, as disclosed by CEO Bill Hornbuckle.

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Japan is largely viewed as an untapped potential by the gambling industry. Since the country greenlit three casino licenses, several companies have been eyeing opportunities for building a casino resort in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Kyushu Resorts Japan, a consortium led by Casinos Austria, sought to grab one of the licenses and presented a Nagasaki-based casino project. The local government approved the consortium’s presentation over competitors, such as Mohegan and Groupe Partouche.

However, the project was ultimately shot down by the Casino Administration Committee, as the central government had financial concerns about the proposal. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Casinos Austria’s project couldn’t present enough evidence to support the certainty of financing.

The principal reason for this was the precarious situation of Credit Suisse, the financial services firm that would have supported the project.

As a result, Kyushu Resorts Japan was unable to secure the coveted gaming concession, sending the Nagasaki province back to the drawing board.  

As it turns out, the Casinos Austria-led consortium is not going to appeal the decision.

Kyushu Resorts Japan and the Nagasaki Prefecture Accepted the Decision

As the March 27 deadline for appealing the government’s decision approaches, Kyushu Resorts Japan announced that it doesn’t plan to dispute the central government’s decision to block the project.

Takashi Oya, the consortium’s chief executive, told GGRAsia that no administrative appeal request will be filed by his team. He explained that the unclearness of the government’s criteria and a lack of understanding led to the project’s downfall.  

Kengo Oishi, Nagasaki’s governor, is also expected to agree with the decision. Many expect him to make a public statement very soon.

Had the project been approved, Kyushu Resorts Japan would have constructed a $3.3 billion casino resort, primarily financed by Credit Suisse. The casino complex would have included as many as 2,220 slots, 220 gaming tables and 8 hotels.

In the meantime, the Osaka Integrated Resort project began construction, marking the coming of casino gaming to Japan.

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The central government of Japan has greenlit a revised implementation agreement for Osaka’s integrated resort project. Compiled by the Osaka Prefecture and the MGM Resorts consortium, which are behind the project, the plan would allow a formal agreement to be signed later this month.

The approval was announced by Japan’s Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Tetsuo Saito, last Friday. It follows the prefecture’s submission of a revised agreement earlier this month.

Under the revised agreement, the opening of the integrated resort will be further delayed to 2030. In addition, the initial investment in the property has been increased by $1.3 billion to a total of $8.6 billion. The agreement revisions came amid rising prices of construction materials.

The current approval means that the prefecture and the MGM Resorts consortium could sign the implementation agreement in September, securing the future of the highly-anticipated Osaka integrated resort project.

Depending on how the situation unfolds, construction of the main facility could start in spring 2025.

The IR Project Is Closer to Realization Than Ever Before

The MGM Resorts consortium is comprised of the international casino and hospitality giant MGM Resorts International and its local partner Orix Corp. The planned casino resort would be built on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay.

The property would include as many as 2,500 hotel rooms and some 730,000 square feet of MICE space and tourism facilities. The resort is expected to be a major driver of tourism and visitation, bolstering the local economy.

Some experts believe that the project could turn Osaka into a preferred destination for tourism, reflecting the effect similar projects had in places such as Singapore.

Despite all the arguments in favor of the resort, some groups remain unconvinced. A year ago, for example, an anti-IR group pushed for a referendum in hopes of squashing the project. Certain political groups also opposed the project because of various concerns.

In spite of the challenges, the Osaka IR project is now closer to realization than it has ever been, signifying an important triumph for its supporters. The success of this project can not only provide boons to the Japanese economy but may also change the country’s relationship with the gambling industry.

In other news, Osaka selected the business consultancy Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu for the provision of support services for the development of its upcoming integrated resort earlier this year.  

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Illegal gambling operators across the globe disrupt the operations of the legal sector, avoid paying taxes and in some cases are even related to groups tied to criminal activities. As such, governments and gambling regulators constantly monitor the online and retail sectors, fighting against illegal gambling. Japan, a country that seeks to reduce the number of illegal gambling operators and prevent other crimes, recently announced it will increase the rewards for anonymous crime reporting.

Earlier this week, the National Police Agency (NPA) in Japan, confirmed that it will increase the reward that anonymous crime tippers can receive. The current reward for anonymous reporting of crimes is set at 100,000 yen ($680). This sum is expected to change, starting from October 1, 2023, skyrocketing to the staggering 1 million yen ($6,800).

The reward would be applicable to people who report crimes and result in the discontinuation of illegal organizations. Crimes that can be reported via phone or online include illegal gambling, drugs, human trafficking, as well as prostitution, among others. Ultimately, the NPA anticipates detaining culprits involved in the so-called “dark jobs,” that involve different crimes, including robberies, thefts and even child prostitution. In addition to individuals, the law enforcement authorities will fight against mobile crime groups. Such groups are often gathered through social media and are involved in a variety of criminal activities.

Crime Tips Can be Submitted via Phone and Online

The tips can be submitted via an online platform in any language or by phone. People who want to receive more information or would like to submit a crime tip can call a toll-free service number in Japanese. A private organization will be responsible for the collection of the information which will then be reported to the NPA.

The increased reward for reporting crime tips comes after more than 27,000 tips were filed for the fiscal year 2022. The reported crime tips led to arrests in 45 different cases. Overall, some 530,000 yen ($3,600) was paid to informants for 11 different cases. A majority of the reported cases were related to drugs, among other crimes.

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The news was confirmed early on Friday, with the government of Japan finally picking the first location to host the country’s inaugural integrated resort which will seek to boost tourism and generate an economic boon.

Osaka Wins in Expected Decision by Government

The first of the three resorts is set to open by 2029 and it will cost $13.5 billion to pull off. It will be built on Yumeshima, a man-made island in Osaka Bay, and come with a range of amenities, facilities, and venues. The integrated resort will have a dedicated Las Vegas-style resort casino as its central piece but it will feature so much more as well.

This new project will come along with hotels, conference rooms, shopping malls, a ferry terminal, and a range of other leisure and business additions. There will be dedicated helicopter pads to bring in and out well-heeled guests and customers. Overall, the first integrated resort, developed by MGM Resorts International and ORIX, a local company, is set to be a big success when it finally welcomes its first guests.

Once this happens, Japan hopes to see many of Asia’s richest gamblers flock to this new gambling Mecca. Each of the two companies developing the project owns a 40% stake in a dedicated company that they have set up to place an official bid with the government and realize the project. The other 20% of the stake is held by the local government.

As to the Japanese government, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida seems confident that the incoming integrated resort should contribute significantly to the economic growth of the Kansai area in Osaka and beyond. The resort is expected to generate more than 520 billion yen worth of revenue annually and bring in as many as six million international tourists and 14 million domestic visitors.

Japan Still Hesitant about Other Bidders

Of course, there have been some concerns about the future of the project. Some have objected to it arguing that there were serious environmental concerns with the reclamation of the island. Others still have objected to gambling on principle, arguing that gambling could bring more societal ills than it would benefits.

The entire process was plagued by setbacks as well – as the pandemic struck, companies willing to bid for the realization of integrated resorts dropped out of the race. By the April deadline in 2022, only two prefectures had completed an application process, with the other one being Nagasaki.

However, there has been no official confirmation whether Nagasaki will secure the rights to host an integrated resort as well. The government said on Friday that it needed more time to review the proposal submitted by the prefecture.

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Industry expert and general manager of gaming firm Bay City Ventures Joji Kokuryo has said that Japan will not be having online casinos anytime soon as the government is not even considering it. He made this comment at a panel discussion held during the ASEAN Gaming Summit in Manila.

Speaking on the possibilities for the Japanese gaming market, Kokuryo mentioned that key Japanese authorities such as the Police Agency and Consumer Affairs Agency have expressed their displeasure towards online gambling while openly declaring it as “illegal”. He added that even Prime Minister Kishida stated that “online casinos are indeed against the law”.

Seeing as the government does not recognize online gambling as a viable gaming vertical, there has been a proliferation of unregulated online casinos which the government is finding all means to squash. Concerning that, Kokuryo observed: there are some short-term options with varying levels of effects such as geoblocking popular sites or clamping down on money transfer services that could help to mitigate the number of users. However, it is still up for debate what long-term actions will be implemented and to what extent will unregulated online site users be charged with the current maximum fine of JPY500,000 ($3,825) for first-time offenders”.

Meanwhile, Japan‘s plans to build two mega integrated resorts in the Osaka and Nagasaki prefectures is still in the works with no new information coming out about it since last year. While the central government is taking its time to consider the IR plans and whether to approve them, Kokuryo noted that there is a tendency for “non-IR related issues” to crop up the longer the wait.

Kokuryo went on to discuss about other issues that may affect or have somewhat of an impact on Japan’s gambling industry. He named the collapse of Credit Suisse bank, preparation of Yumeshima site for World Expo in 2025 and technology trends that may turn the tides of gaming in the country.

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