It is Sheldon Adelson’s favorite expression: the casino magnate has pledged it takes’ to gain a foothold in Japan, should the country legalize land-based casinos, as is expected to be approved in time to have casinos in place for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games that he will spend ‘whatever. Coincidently, Adelson also recently declared, vehemently, it takes’ to prevent online gambling from gaining a foothold in the U.S., although in the case of Japan, the ‘whatever’ has a number, and that number is $10 billion that he would spend ‘whatever.

Cash or always check?

It is a dramatic statement of intent from the CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which currently operates the Venetian in Macau therefore the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, as the organization licks its solid chops at the proposed regulation of land gambling in the globe’s third many economy that is prosperous. Adelson even told a press meeting in Tokyo that he would pay that sum in ‘cash’ if necessary. We suppose it assists being the ninth-richest person in the planet when you make statements like that.

It shall certainly make Japan’s lawmakers sit up and take notice. The nation’s ruling Liberal Democrat Party presented a bill to parliament in early December that aims to open up a gaming market that may potentially function as second-largest in the globe. It is estimated that Japan’s casino market could generate $40 eventually billion in revenue annually.

‘we think the bill will certainly pass,’ says Assistant Professor at Nihon University College of Economics Kazuaki Sasaki. ‘LDP is supporting the bill and also for anyone parties which are against the bill, I don’t think they will put limitations for each member’s vote.’

Competitive Bidding

However, professionals are expecting a tremendously competitive bidding process once the bill passes, and say it might well be five years prior to the very first casino is ready to go. It’s no shock, then, that the casino leaders are just starting to flex their muscles, vying to gain the upper hand. Las vegas Sands’ $10 billion spending declaration is twice that of what Macau’s Melco Crown has pledged to ante up. And with typical bravado, Adelson also informed assembled news that his business had already established offices in Japan, and it is ready to start hiring workers.

Should Las Vegas Sands receive a gaming that is coveted, it will only give consideration to creating a casino in a large metropolis, such as Tokyo or Osaka, Adelson revealed. This, according to regional gaming specialist D.S. Kim, is very much commensurate with the company’s M.O. a choice for building large-scale casino resorts, complete with convention centers and shopping centers, in major tourist hubs with large, affluent populations and good transport infrastructures currently in destination.

In other words: perhaps not Sochi.

Twenty-four hours after Adelson’s press conference, MGM Resorts shot back with their very own statement that is bold of, with CEO Jim Murren declaring a budget of $5 to $10 billion as well.

‘ We will over-invest in the beginning to make sure, as we have done everywhere else, so that we have actually properties that are built to last and that would stand extra competition,’ he promised.

Wynn Resorts Ltd. President Matt Maddox’s reaction was more conservative, but perhaps contained a snarky nod towards his rivals’ machismo: ‘The possibility is extremely good, but you’ve got to be careful in throwing out billions and billions of dollars without really understanding what the goals are of the city.’

Looks like these competitors are starting their own games as soon as possible.