Casinos Austria IR bid focuses on music, medical care

Monday 26th of November 2018

Casinos Austria International Japan (CAIJ) is planning to build its IR bid on the security that comes with choosing a state-run casino operator, and it will be based on the themes of classical music and medical care, according to CAIJ President Akio Hayashi in an exclusive interview with Asia Gaming Brief.

Hayashi’s keywords are “clean, safe, secure.” CAIJ will be able to make its pitch to local governments by arguing the advantages of choosing a rock solid, state-backed operator. He aims to create a world-class medical mall in the facility, as well as an apt venue for performances by the Vienna Philharmonic, the Vienna Boys' Choir, and other classical music groups.

CAIJ participated in the recent Nagasaki RFI, but is also interested in other regional locations such as Tomakomai and Wakayama. Hayashi explains that his company’s concept fits better with quieter and more relaxed rural areas than with major urban markets.

CAIJ was legally established in April 2017 but only launched its activities in earnest at the beginning of this month with its surprise press conference at the Austrian Embassy. There are currently four staff members in Japan, including Hayashi, but he expects the number to expand.

Hayashi admits that CAIJ has entered the Japan IR hunt at a relatively late stage, but feels that the nature of the company sets it apart from all of the others, thus giving them a reasonable chance of being selected.

Asked if CAIJ would consider a tie-up with another international IR operator, he stated that “the possibility isn’t zero.” At any rate, for CAIJ serious consortium-building efforts are only just beginning.