The intense competition for a Japanese integrated resort (IR) license looks like it might be starting to push some players into making concessions. On May 21, Mitsuaki Kiriyama, vice president of Bloomberry Resorts Japan Inc, told GGRAsia that his company is no longer considering an Osaka resort.

The decision appears to be influenced by the intense bidding process created by Osaka’s request-for-concept (RFC) process. As the major players vying for a license have to make big, expensive promises to the city, it’s starting to price out what Bloomberry is expecting will be a reasonable price point to come in and make a profit.

That competition is expected to force operators to promise at least a $8.5 billion resort plan. Kiriyama told the outlet that his company is looking for a much lower price point of around $2 billion to $3 billion. That strict budget is keeping them on the sidelines for the moment.

“We have not yet decided which location is best. That is still under research,” he said. He cited the uncertainty of taxation and junket regulations, but asserted that Bloomberry’s preference is to be near one of the bigger cities, leaving Tokyo or Yokohama as options.