With Japan set to become the world’s next big gaming hub following passage of the IR Implementation Bill, all eyes will be on the Land of the Rising Sun over the coming 12 months as the government ponders who and where should host the nation’s first integrated resorts.

Many of the key issued facing Japan over the coming months will be discussed during this afternoon’s session of the MGS Summit, including the prospects of the various bidding parties and the pros and cons of the possible locations.

With two IR licenses set to be awarded to metropolitan areas, the likes of Osaka, Yokohama and Tokyo are among the obvious potential locations while Hokkaido, Nagasaki, Wakayama and Okinawa have all been touted as potential regional hosts.

Having attended the Japan Gaming Congress in Tokyo in May, one thing I know for sure is that the world’s operators will spare no expense in ramping their campaigns as the clock ticks over into 2019.

Watch this space.

Ben Blaschke
Managing Editor