At least three new contenders said they will join the race to develop an integrated resort in Nagasaki, Japan.
The three candidates are in addition to the four known contenders in the Request for Proposal (RFP) when it launches this week, according to a report by Nagasaki Shimbun: Oshidori International Holdings, Casinos Austria, Pixel Companyz in collaboration with Groupe Partouche, and a consortium comprising Get Nice Holdings and Current Corp.
While the identities of the three new candidates have not been publicly revealed, two are reportedly US-based companies with the third based in Asia. All three already operate IRs, are said to be “mid-sized” and have previously expressed interest in other locations in Japan, according to the report.
Nagasaki is one of four locations currently in the mix for IR development in Japan, alongside Osaka prefecture/city, Wakayama prefecture and Yokohama city. Both Osaka and Wakayama launched their RFPs in early 2020 before the full impact of COVID-19 was felt.
Nagasaki announced on 25 December 2020 that it would begin its RFP on Thursday, 7 January 2021. The national government will accept area certification from October 2021 until April 2022, after which time it will review submitted plans and offer certification to a maximum of three areas.