Galaxy Entertainment announced on Monday its withdrawal from consideration for an IR license in partnership with the government of Osaka for the Yumeshima location.
The statement, issued in the name of Galaxy Vice-Chairman Francis Lui, indicated that “after deep reflection we decided at this time that our focus should be on other potential locations in Japan, including among others, Yokohama. We informed the Osaka City Integrated Resort Promotion Bureau of this decision well ahead of the February 14 deadline for application to participate in the RFP and the city were understanding and appreciative of the efforts we made in assisting them with the process to date.”
Lui added, “We remain fully committed to Japan, to assist the government to achieve their tourism and economic goals, and we believe Galaxy’s healthy balance sheet and track record in developing and operating the world’s most successful IR…. can make that a reality.”
Among the international IR operators competing in Japan, Galaxy had tended to say the least about the locations it is interested in, usually indicating that many possibilities were under consideration. This was the first time they have explicitly ruled out a major municipality.
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