According to an exclusive interview published by Bloomberg, the company’s top choices for the construction of Japan's first casino are Osaka and the surrounding Kansai region.
““When you go to the Kansai region, it’s more fun, really, and we’re a company that focuses on fun and entertainment, said the 40-year-old Ho.
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Melco is competing for Japanese licenses with rivals that include Las Vegas Sands Corp. and MGM Resorts International, both of which are focusing on Tokyo and Yokohama in addition to Osaka. To be selected, operators and municipalities will have to team up and submit a proposal to the government, according to guidelines published this month.
The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which made casino liberalization a priority, hasn’t decided where those casinos will be built nor which companies will operate them.