Japanese pachinko operator, Sega Sammy Holdings Incorporated, has reportedly declared that it is continuing to search for the ‘most appropriate partner’ to help it secure one of three casino licenses being made available in its home nation.

Bidding process update:

According to a report from GGRAsia, the Tokyo-based giant made the revelation last week as part of a follow-up to its second-quarter financial results and moreover included a disclosure that it expects the official bidding process for one of the lucrative licenses to begin as soon as next year or in 2020 ‘at the latest.’

Majority owner preference:

Sega Sammy Holdings Incorporated reportedly proclaimed that it is preparing to come up with a bid ‘in line with such timing’ while its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hajime Satomi (pictured), is said to have additionally explained that his firm would like to be the majority owner of any future Japanese integrated casino resort in which it has a stake.

South Korea experience:

Already responsible via a partnership with Paradise Company Limited for the foreigner-only Paradise City integrated casino resort in South Korea, Sega reportedly also stated that it is ‘accumulating know-how’ via this enterprise in hopes of increasing its likelihood of being selected in Japan.

Partnership potential:

GGRAsia reported that the pachinko operator also detailed that it may look to expand its partnership with Seoul-listed Paradise Company Limited ‘into different regions’ if the relationship ‘becomes a big success.’ However, it divulged that this may not include Japan, where numerous industry experts have predicted 2025 as the opening year for the nation’s inaugural integrated casino resort.

Reportedly read a statement from Sammy Sega Holdings Incorporated…

“For a Japanese integrated resort, we would like to find the most appropriate partner including other collaborative operators as the partnership with Paradise [Company Limited] has not been decided.”