Hard Rock eyeing Japan for major gaming resort
Saturday, 08 Nov, 2016
0
With speculation Japanese lawmakers will finally approve permits for gaming resorts, Hard Rock Cafe International says it plans a ‘major investment.’
It is seeking partners to jointly bid for a license, said CEO Hamish Dodds.
"We can either play a lead role or a partnership role. We really hope that we can collaborate with Japanese partners and institutions," Dodds said during an interbiew in Tokyo.
After years of holding off legalizing gambling, Japan is likely to approve it as it experiences a tourism boom.
"The feeling we get is that this is more likely to happen now. There’s more noise, there’s greater discussions in the commercial sector about how and when this will be realized," Dodds told Bloomberg.
Rivals MGM Resorts, Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts also want a piece of the action, which could be worth up to $40 billion a year, according to analysts.
The major casino players including Hard Rock were all at a gaming conference in Japan last week seeking interest from potential partners and lobbying politicians ahead of a legislative vote on the matter.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Clearing CSS/JS assets' cache... Please wait until this notice disappears...
Updating... Please wait...
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026