Universal Studios Japan looks for casino expansion

With the Japanese Government edging closer to legalising casino gambling, Universal Studios Japan operator USJ Co. Ltd is looking to partner with a foreign casino operator to expand the theme park into an integrated casino resort.

USJ Co. Ltd., which runs the Universal Studios Japan theme park near Osaka under license from NBC Universal, is in talks with MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Genting Bhd. with a view to agreeing an integrated resort partnership.

While having recorded more than 10 million visitors in 2013 and also having recently opened the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction, business information analysts Bloomberg suggest that the theme park is "failing", adding that the addition of a casino would help in "turning around" the attraction.

In an interview with Bloomberg, USJ Chief Executive Glenn Gumpel stated "we have operational capacity, experience know-how, and I don’t think we would be stretched to participate in more than one (casino resort).

“As a company, we would like to grow outside of the current confines of the theme park.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party is seeking to pass a law to legalise casinos in Japan later this year, as part of plans to boost tourism along with the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. 

Operators including MGM, Caesars and Las Vegas Sands Corp. have expressed interest to take part once the ban is lifted and pledged to spend billions of dollars to build resorts.

Beyond its site in Osaka, USJ is also looking at Tokyo and Okinawa as potential sites for casino-based integrated resorts.

USJ had sales of 95.9 billion yen in the year ended March, an increase of 17% from a year earlier, according to spokesman Johta Takahashi. Operating profit jumped 51% to a record 24.2 billion yen.

Opened on 15th July, Universal Studios Japan's Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction helped draw 870,000 visitors to the park in July, a record for the month.

In May, USJ also revealed plans to build new theme parks in Japan and Asia. 

18th July 2014 - UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN UNVEILS WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

9th May 2014 - UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN TO BUILD NEW PARKS IN ASIA