Japan Negotiates with Harrahs Sands for Casinos After 2010

Japan negotiates with international casino operators that include the Harrah's Entertainment Inc. and Sands Corp. to operate the first ever casino in Japan after 2010.

Toru Mihara, adviser to the governing Liberal Democratic Party casino of Japan, said that the government might initially issue two to three licenses for casino gaming resorts that would cost less than the Sands three billion dollars investment to Singapore.

Mihara, said that the international casino groups are interested in coming to Japan and they are expecting that Japan will be favorite casino destination.

Japan, with a population of one hundred twenty eight million, is expected to cancel the ban on casinos to attract more tourists.

Michael Chen, Harrah's president in Asia Pacific, said that Japan has the all the qualities for good casino market.

With the gross domestic product per capita of Japan topping in Asia and exceeding the US, it makes Japan the next destination of casino operators after Macau and Singapore.

Mihara said that the locations being considered for the casino are harbor areas in Tokyo, vacant areas near Universal Studios in Osaka and the resort areas in Okinawa and Hokkaido.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan had formed a sub committee about casino policies.