In Japan and a group of companies in the city of Chiba have reportedly banded together in hopes of improving their community’s odds at being granted one of the three integrated casino resort licenses being put up for grabs by the central government.

According to a report from Inside Asian Gaming, Chiba is home to just short of one million people and it is hoping that its close proximity to central Tokyo and numerous international airports will help it to beat off competition from rivals such as Yokohama, Sasebo and Osaka to be selected as the home for one of the coming gambling-friendly facilities.

Private endeavor:

To further improve these odds, local construction firm Shinnihon Corporation has purportedly now joined with area manufacturing leviathan Kitz Corporation and ten other smaller firms to establish a private entity known as MICE IR Chiba. Inside Asian Gaming reported that this new enterprise currently has just over $3.24 million at hand and will endeavor to attract additional partners as it formulates ways to assist in bringing an integrated casino resort to the area.

Makuhari hopes:

MICE IR Chiba is reportedly being led in the position of President by Kazue Kanesuna, who moreover serves as Chairman for Shinnihon Corporation, and moreover hopes to be able to convince the local government to favor the Makuhari district of Chiba for its integrated casino resort bid. This area of reclaimed land located along the shores of Tokyo Bay is already home to the 79,000 sq ft Makuhari Messe exhibition center as well as the 30,000-seat Zozo Marine Stadium and the new entity believes its already extensive infrastructure would make it an ideal spot for one of Japan’s coming casinos.

Formal intent:

Other firms that have signed on to support MICE IR Chiba encompass local property developer Tsukamoto Sogyo as well as regional manufacturing giants Ninomiya and Chiba Sokkei with the entity now set to work towards finalizing concrete proposals for its Makuhari scheme by the end of next month.