Casino mogul Adelson says Japan casino resort could cost up to USD 10B

"It would be at least what we paid in Singapore, USD 6B including the land, but it could be as much as USD 10B," LVS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon Adelson said on Tuesday at an investor conference in Tokyo, referring to the Marina Bay Sands property in Singapore.

Japan legalized casinos late last year and is now drafting rules, due by December, on how to regulate the industry and pick operators and locations of so-called "integrated resorts" - large-scale complexes combining casinos, hotels and shopping.

Though estimates of the potential size of the Japanese market vary, brokerage CLSA said just two resorts in major cities could generate a total of $10 billion in annual revenue, growing to $25 billion with more locations.

Major U.S. operators including MGM Resorts International (MGM.N) and Wynn Resorts Ltd (WYNN.O) are also among the runners for the first license, while Galaxy Entertainment Corp Ltd (GALE.BO) and Australia's Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd (MPEL.O) have also expressed interest.

Political sources previously told Reuters that Japan is likely to pick casino operators and locations by 2019, with the first casinos opening by 2023.