The governor of Hokkaido, Naomichi Suzuki, declared that the island will not be vying to host a combined casino complex in the immediate future, expressing worries about the project’s potential effects on the local ecosystem.
Hokkaido was among numerous prospective sites for the resort, which became a possibility due to legislation enacted by Japan’s legislative body in July 2018.
However, Suzuki informed the Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly today (November 29) that the island would step back from the bidding process for the time being, as it requires additional time to address environmental concerns associated with the project.
According to Kyodo News, Suzuki stated, “Hokkaido’s integrated resort possesses significant potential to coexist harmoniously with nature, but within the limited timeframe allotted to the government for site selection, it is infeasible to fully consider the environment.”
Suzuki did not dismiss the possibility of bringing up the matter again in the days to come, indicating that the administration would be ready to make a bid for a gambling establishment to contribute to “Hokkaido’s long-term growth.”
Hard Rock International previously declared plans to construct a comprehensive entertainment complex in Hokkaido, as part of its attempt to secure one of Japan’s three casino licenses. The proposal encompasses numerous hotels, a Hard Rock live music venue, a theater, and a monorail line directly to New Chitose International Airport. The initial proposal did not explicitly mention a gambling facility, as under the 2018 legislation, only 3% of the resort’s total area could be used for gaming.
Okinawa, Osaka, Yokohama, Wakayama, Sasebo, and the capital Tokyo are other locations being considered for casino resorts. The legislation permits the initial issuance of three licenses, each valid for a decade and renewable every five years after commencement.
The Japanese government has stated that it will contemplate adding more resorts seven years after approving the first three.
Other rules include limiting residents to a maximum of 10 visits to casinos per week. Foreigners can visit without charge and an unlimited number of times, but locals will have to pay a fee of 6,000 yen (£42/€50/$56) per visit.
The Japanese government has recently selected Michio Kitamura, a former legal compliance director at the Ministry of Defense, to head their newly established casino regulatory body.
Kitamura is among several new appointees chosen by the government for this organization, which is scheduled to become operational in January.