As Japanese Diet passed a bill to legalize casinos last December, some cities including Yokohama have shown their interest to invite the nation’s first casino resort to be built. The Yokohama Chamber of Commerce and Industry published on November, 2016 the report on economic effect of casino resort, or IR. While the report considers the development of IR would play an important role to the city’s economic growth, significance of public and private cooperation and appropriate city planning was pointed out at the same time.

Potential sites for development are Yokohama bay area such as Yamashita Futo area and Minato Mirai 21. The report estimates construction investment at 250 billion yen and production value induced by the development at 390.3 billion yen. Economic effect after the opening could reach more than 600 billion yen and 66,000-79,000 employment is expected to produce.

Yamashita Pier area is considered as one of the most potent casino sites by CCI Yokohama and the local government. The city plans to develop the 47 ha area into large-scaled entertainment, sports and convention facilities with an aim to create “Harbor Resort.” The first phase development is planned to be undertaken at the 13 ha plot, aiming to complete in 2020 in time for the Tokyo Olympic Games. (2017/1/10)