As revealed several days ago by the government responsible for Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan, the prefecture’s officials are still intent on launching the RFP or request for the proposal stage of its already devised plan which revolves around securing one of coming Japanese trio of fully integrated casino resort licenses. This came to many as a surprise considering the ravaging coronavirus crisis which was especially prominent in Asia in the past two months.

According to recent reports by Inside Asian Gaming and GGRAsia, this revelation by the government for Nagasaki Prefecture means that this Japanese jurisdiction of over 1.3 million residents has not made any alterations or changes to its original plan and schedule despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The nation’s plan to launch the request for proposal stage for its fully integrated casino resort plan licensing has not been affected by a Prime Minister’s decision to place all seven affected Japanese communities into emergency lockdowns for at least one month.

The Month-Long Lockdowns of Seven Communities

Even though Nagasaki Prefecture and its 1.3 million residents have not been included in those emergency lockdowns of seven Japanese communities affected by the coronavirus crisis, the decision made it significantly more difficult for Nagasaki Prefecture’s officials to travel across the country and to hold business meetings with operating partners and other interested clients. On the other hand, several big Japanese cities were included in the nation’s coronavirus-related emergency lockdowns and these include Hyogo, Kanagawa, Fukuoka, Saitama, Osaka, Chiba, and Tokyo.

As reported by GGRAsia, Nagasaki Prefecture is hoping to be given all necessary official permissions and licenses to construct and operate a Las Vegas-style gambling-friendly resort. According to the prefecture’s already devised plans, this fully integrated casino resort is planned for a seventy-acre parcel which is located near Huis Ten Bosch theme park near the city of Sasebo.

Nagasaki Prefecture launched its RFC or initial request for the concept of its fully integrated casino resort plan back in September. At the moment, the officials for Nagasaki Prefecture anticipate finally moving onto the following, a more formal request for proposal or RFP stage in the following months before the summer starts.

Nagasaki Prefecture Releasing an Updated Basic Concept Plan

As Nagasaki Prefecture’s officials wait for the next steps and as they prepare, they have released an updated variant of its fully integrated casino resort basic concept plan. The updated version of the plan was released a couple of days ago and this version more clearly lays out what the prefecture expects from interested foreign casino operators which are interested in constructing and potentially running the proposed fully integrated casino resort for Nagasaki Prefecture.

This revised basic concept plan features seventy-three pages and it pronounces that such a gambling-friendly development could bring a massive economic ripple effect for the whole community worth around $3.85 billion. The seventy-three-page document also pronounces that such a gambling facility could lead to great new working opportunities and full-time jobs for over 360,000 local residents.

Furthermore, the revised document also reveals that the planned fully integrated casino resort for Nagasaki Prefecture could open its doors to the public in 2025 and in the meantime provide around 840,000 temporary construction jobs. The updated version of the basic concept plan for the planned gambling-friendly venue also reveals that the entire project would cost around $3.2 and $4.2 billion with yearly customer numbers reaching 9.3 million.

Nagasaki Prefecture is a Japanese region located on the Kyushu island. The population of the area was over 1,3 million citizens as estimated on the 1^st of June, 2019. The prefecture was created from the western half of the Hizen together with the province of Iki and Tsushima. Historically, the region was an important center for pirates and traders. Back in the sixteenth century, the area started welcoming Catholic missionaries and Portuguese traders thanks to which it became a key center for international trade.

Today, Nagasaki Prefecture is home to stunning architecture and tourist destinations including Nagasaki Bio Park, Suwa Shrine, Hirado Castle, Shinchi Chinatown, Urakami Cathedral, Glover Garden, Mount Inasa, Shimabara Castle and many other. This area of over one million citizens may also become home to a fully integrated casino resort.

Nagasaki Prefecture Joining the Race to Host One of Nation’s Trio of Casino Resorts

As reported by the Inside Asian Gaming news outlet, the prefecture’s officials have announced that they are extremely eager to have chosen the preferring casino operating partner for their region’s already envisioned fully integrated casino resort by the next autumn. Nagasaki Prefecture decided to join the race which will secure all of the mandatory rights to construct and operate one of Japanese three integrated casino resorts back in January.

Shortly after joining the race, officials of the prefecture have also launched the RFC or initial request for the concept phase of its business strategy plan nine months after joining the race. Inside Asian Gaming also reported that this southern Kyushu island community of around 1,3 million citizens hopes to be given all of the mandatory official permissions which will allow Nagasaki Prefecture to bring a casino resort constructed in a Las Vegas-style to its area or more specifically to its popular Huis Ten Bosch theme park.

The theme park is situated very close to the city of Sasebo. Since the initial plan was submitted, it has managed to attract interested from several casino operating parties including one of the most prominent European casino operators Casinos Austria International. The company operates many international entertainment and casino facilities in Austria, Egypt, Canada, and Argentina. It’s resorts and casinos include Reef Casino and Casino Canberra in Australia, Casino Royale and Casino Semiramis in Egypt, Las Lenas ski resort located in Argentina and Great Blue Heron Casino located in Canada.

Nagasaki Prefecture Holding a Public Consultation Period

Even though the majority of gambling activities are illegal in the country, the nation of over 126 million citizens will become home to a trio of fully integrated casino resorts after the Prime Minister coalition government passed legislation back in July of 2018. To be selected as hosts for these coming $10 billion-worth integrated casino facilities, communities are required to partner with foreign operators before they can submit their official plans to the country’s federal government. The deadline is set for the 30^th of July, 2021.

As reported also by Inside Asian Gaming, Nagasaki Prefecture is currently due to hold a public consultation period which must last at least four weeks. During this period, the prefecture’s officials will invite views on its submitted plan on constructing and managing a casino resort on a seventy-four-acre site which is located adjacent to the theme park. After this period, the prefecture’s officials will establish the final, conclusive plan and launch the final selection process led by an expert committee which is yet to be established.