The company named one of its partners as Hyatt Hotel Group and said there will also be Japanese partners involved in the project.
“By passing this milestone in the award process in Japan, Casinos Austria International has once again demonstrated the kind of excellent reputation that the company enjoys abroad,” said Casinos Austria’s CEO Bettina Glatz-Kremsner.
“After years of restructuring, CAI is back on track. Its knowhow and expertise in the development and operation of such complex projects continue to be impressive,” Glatz-Kremsner added.
“I wish Casinos Austria International, under Christoph Zurucker-Burda’s management, all the best and that they will be awarded one of the three licences next year, together with the Nagasaki Prefecture,” she concluded.
The bid will now be put forward to the central government that will choose the three locations for the IR licences. There are currently four cities in the bidding, with Osaka, Yokohama and Wakayama joining Nagasaki.
Osaka has chosen to partner with a consortium involving MGM Resorts and Orix Corp, while Wakayama has chosen Clairvest. There is a question mark over whether Yokohama will push forward with its bid due to a strong anti-casino movement. The issue is likely to be determined by the outcome of mayoral elections on August 22.
If the city does press ahead with its plans, it will need to choose between Genting Singapore and Melco Resorts and Entertainment.
In Nagasaki, Casinos Austria got the edge over a consortium between Mohegan Sun and Oshidori Corp and a group of companies going under the name of Parkview Group.
In a surprise move, Oshidori announced it was pulling out just days before the winner was declared.
Source: Asia Gaming Brief
