International Business Times – ames Packer’s Asian gaming joint-venture Melco Crown wants to build a casino in Tokyo in time for the 2020 Olympics, according to The Australian. Japan is included in the company’s international expansions, along with Vietnam and South Korea, Todd Nisbet, the Crown executive leading the Japan casino bid, said.
Other casino giants vying for Japan’s approval for the right to build and operate casinos include Wynns and Las Vegas Sands, among others. Japan, to boost its tourism and economy, intends to allow integrated casino resorts in regional cities including Tokyo and Osaka.
“Japan is the biggest single opportunity that we are looking at in terms of an international expansion and growth story, just because of the sophistication of the market, the appeal of the overall area,” Mr Nisbet told The Australia.
James Packer, Crown’s top boss, is part of the business delegation that will accompany Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on his Japan visit. The Tokyo casino complex is pegged to be worth US$5 billion when built in time for the 2020 Olympics. It is expected to churn out $40 billion a year for Melco Crown.
With 120 million people, Japan has long been regarded as the casino world’s El Dorado.
