According to a report by GGRAsia, Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment hopes to spend $ 4.5 billion to open a large casino, tentatively called the Inspire Entertainment Resort Hokkaido near the port city of Tomakomai, but should compete with many other operators, as well as eight competing communities, including the huge cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama.
Although most gambling is now banned in Japan, last July, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's coalition government passed a law according to which a trio of casino licenses is to be offered. To be selected as the host of one of these new facilities, locally called integrated casinos, communities must work together with an experienced foreign casino operator before submitting their final strategies to the Tokyo central government.
Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment already manages Mohegan Sun Casino in southeastern
Connecticut and owns Mohegan Sun Pocono near Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, and operates similar facilities in Louisiana, Washington, and New Jersey.
In addition, the company plans to open its $ 1.6 billion Project Inspire Casino Resort in South Korea by the end of 2022. According to reports, the Hokkaido office is now used to receive support from local authorities and business leaders.
GGRAsia announced that Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment was not the only US company looking to establish a complete resort casino in Hokkaido, with Hard Rock International Incorporated also announcing plans for a facility in Tomakomai. However, this field has been narrowing after the end of August, when Caesars Entertainment decided to abandon Japan's expectations in anticipation of a $ 17.3 billion merger with Eldorado Resorts Incorporated, its Nevada rival.
