Why is Hokkaido Casino ideal as a candidate site for casino?

In Hokkaido, they’ve been considering targeting wealthy tourists from Southeast Asia such as people from Hong Kong, China, Korea and Taiwan including Japanese people for casino sites that are believed to be Sapporo, Otaru and Kushiro. As of July 2018, those who put their hand up were Tomakomai, Kushiro and Rusutsu in Shiribeshi.



In June 2018, the Hokkaido Mayor, Harumi Takahashi answered to the Liberal Democratic Party Communion with ‘We will properly and speedily make a decision without deviation to ensure we are an option for consideration’. So, she showed their intention to be considered from the early stages in terms of being a candidate site in Hokkaido and in relation to gambling addiction after the IR implementation bill, so it seems that they will actively get onto IR attractions in Hokkaido with successive mayors.



Also, Hokkaido is very popular among foreign tourists especially with Chinese people, because there is skiing, snowboarding, hot springs, museums, International conference centers, large hotels, so considering how the current Casino Bill says that casino facilities are fine up to a maximum of three sites, one of them will possibly be a place in Hokkaido.

Where would Hokkaido Casino be located?

1. When will Hokkaido Casino be constructed?

As far as the work schedule to open a casino resort goes, it is thought that the first IR facility will be constructed somewhere in between 2024 to 2025 in Japan.

2. Where is Hokkaido Casino going to be located?

The two cities and town that put their hands up as candidates for being an IR attraction are roughly stated as: Tomakomai with the attraction located in the hub airport nearby IR, Kushiro with the attraction located alongside Lake Akan hot spring eco resort type IR and Rusutsu with the attraction located on the plateau as a resort IR.



However, considering how there will only be a maximum of three resort facility sites and those who are keen are Tomakomai, Kushiro and Rusutsu in Shiribe, Tomakomai is possibly the preferred option at the current time.



According to Tomakomai integrated resort promotion council which was established in August 2016, the site for Tomakomai IR is supposedly a private land in Uenae, Tomakomai located nearby New Chitose Airport and is a convenient location for foreign tourists and it can be a great initiator to get more tourists coming in. So, that is one step ahead compared to the other two.



Also, in Tomakomai, they are aiming to make an International resort utilizing Hokkaido’s nature at the same time, so it is said that they will make roads nicer for commuting between the airport and the casino resort, as well as install solar panels for electricity generation with the vast land of Hokkaido and tap into natural gas supply from Russia for IR facility’s power.



★ Leading candidate sites and construction plan for Hokkaido Casino
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