Japan’s tourism economy is about to undergo a massive shift — potentially introducing $10 billion in integrated resorts — with a little help from researchers at UNLV’s International Gaming Institute (IGI).
Japanese government officials and business leaders commissioned research from IGI’s Bo Bernhard, Brett Abarbanel, and Jennifer Roberts as well as Kahlil Philander of Washington State University to guide their nation in launching Japan’s first integrated resorts. Now available to the public, the two extensive reports the team produced provide some of the most comprehensive information that any jurisdiction has been able to utilize prior to integrated resort implementation.
The first report is a socioeconomic analysis of the impacts of an integrated resort casino, with a particular emphasis on Japan’s stated goals for the endeavor, including striking a balance between growing the Japanese tourism market while minimizing social costs such as addiction and crime.
The second report examines how gaming regulation can help Japan eliminate organized crime in casino management—a crucial first step in a new casino jurisdiction—suggesting rigorous standards in pre-licensing background investigations, post-licensing enforcement structures, internal controls and compliance practices that reflect the highest global standards, and more.
“Japan is in a fortunate position,” said Bernhard, IGI’s executive director. “The government is asking all of the right questions, and the science behind the socioeconomic impacts of integrated resorts has improved significantly in the past 15 years, providing practical and powerful guidelines for many decisions.”
About the UNLV International Gaming Institute
Offering research-based solutions and executive education programs to more than 50 jurisdictions across the globe, the International Gaming Institute (IGI) provides cutting-edge research, knowledge, and innovation to leaders in the global gaming industry. To help maintain its status as the “global intellectual capital” of gaming, IGI houses centers of excellence and labs. The Center for Gaming Innovation, the International Center for Gaming Regulation, the Hospitality Lab, and the Esports Lab were each developed to address a strategic issue that only an academic institution’s unique spaces and structures can solve.
