Former US Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (pictured) is now part of a three-person Japan Advisory Committee established by Caesars Entertainment Corporation. The committee is comprised of distinguished executives from the US-Japan alliance.

Part of its effort to win an integrated resort (IR) license, the Las Vegas-based gaming corporation has, in addition to the former Senator, appointed Kara Bue of Armitage International and former US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky to the committee, according to Asia Gaming Brief.

Commenting on the appointments, Caesars’ President of international development, Steven Tight, said: “We are thrilled to welcome such a distinguished and experienced group of global leaders to our team. Caesars has a proud legacy of delivering remarkable entertainment experiences while focusing on responsible gaming and economic development. We are glad that Senator Daschle, Ambassador Barshefsky, and Kara Bue are helping us bring this experience to Japan should we be fortunate enough to earn a license.”

The former Senator, Tom Daschle, said: “I’m excited to join the Caesars team because, as the industry’s pioneer and chief champion of responsible gaming, I know they will bring the thoughtful and family-oriented approach that Japan is looking for during this important time.”

Also commenting, Charlene Barshefsky, said: “Caesars Entertainment has been successfully developing and operating Integrated Resorts for many decades. Given their vast experience fostering international business as a global leader in the MICE industry, and my experience building strong economic ties between the United States and Japan while United States Trade Representative, joining their team was a natural decision.”

Kara Bue added: “Caesars Entertainment pioneered the first Integrated Resort, Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and ever since has been a leading provider of world-class entertainment. It’s a great pleasure to support the Caesars team and promote the cross-cultural exchange of arts and entertainment between Japan and Caesars’ international network.”

In November 2017, plans were submitted by Caesars to build two integrated resort developments in the Japanese cities of Tomakomai and Osaka. Tomakomai is a city located in Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido.

In November 2017, following the passage of the Integrated Resorts (IR) Promotion Bill by the Japanese parliament in December 2016, which allows casino gambling at IR’s in the country, Caesars submitted plans for casino resorts in Osaka and Tomakomai, a city in Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido.

Caesars’ Executive Vice President Jan Jones Blackhurst said at the time that the Caesars was willing to spend between $5 billion and $10 billion for each of the integrated resorts and would devote only 5% of the IR towards gambling.

If you recall, last August, MGM Resorts played the same US-Japan alliance card when the James Murren-led company appointed former Deputy Chief of Mission for the United States Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, Jason P. Hyland, as President and Representative Officer of MGM Resorts Japan LLC.