Caesars publishes concept images for Tomakomai IR

Wednesday 15th of November 2017

Caesars Entertainment has become the first IR operator to publish concept images for a regional Japanese IR—in this case the Tomakomai site on the northern island of Hokkaido.

Two images were published, one highlighting a summer scene and the other a winter scene. They depict futuristic, angular buildings with a prominently placed large fountain, said to be inspired by the local caldera Lake Shikotsu and Mt. Tarumae.

In response to an inquiry from Asia Gaming Brief, a spokesperson for Caesars explained, “we spent several months researching the market to create an initial proposal that we hope is sensitive to the local context and responsive to the specific objectives and concerns of the local government, such as ensuring the development is in ‘harmony with nature,’ brings back high-quality jobs to the city, promotes regional tourism, and spreads the economic benefits throughout Hokkaido.”

While other operators have published concept images for large urban candidate sites such as Osaka and Yokohama, these appears to be the first such images for a Japanese regional development.

On the other hand, the local business community in Tomakomai did publish in March their own initial concept image for a “Hokkaido White IR” which also emphasized the theme of “coexistence with nature.”

“Caesars views Osaka, Tomakomai, and Yokohama as very attractive development locations,” the spokesperson added.

Bricks & Mortar IR Concept