Japan Cash Machine Co Ltd, a maker of printer and cash processing technologies used in the land casino industry and also known as JCM Global, says it will find business opportunities in Japan's nascent casino resort sector, but adds that COVID-19 has accelerated in some parts of the world with online games or cashless play in bricks and mortar stadiums.

Japan's first integrated resort (IR) is expected to open as early as the end of this decade.

"JCM will continue to closely monitor the Japanese version of IR trends and focus on securing orders for game and commercial projects to seize business growth opportunities," JCM President and CEO Yoshiro Kamihashi (pictured) said in his annual report for the fiscal year on March 31.

He also noted, "COVID-19 is contributing to the spread of digital payments in the gaming industry in the U.S. and other countries. This in turn is triggering a rise in online casinos."

With regard to this trend, JCM is "experiencing strong demand for products and new products that contribute to increased efficiency and reduced labor," JCM's president said.

He added: "Despite these operational changes, we believe a complete transition to a cashless society will still take years."

Mr. Kamihigashi said JCM will focus on "developing and bringing new products to market as soon as possible that meet evolving needs while ensuring strong residual profits driving sustainable growth in the mid to long term."

JCM turned to a net profit of 655.4 million yen ($4.5 million at its current exchange rate) for the fiscal year ended March 31, compared with a net loss of 7.56 billion yen a year ago.

The tech supplier also made some general comments about Osaka and Nagasaki, the two Japanese communities that submitted proposals for each IR to the national government by April 28.

"Integrated development incorporating international conference centers and hotels can contribute to regional growth through the creation of new jobs by increasing the number of foreign tourists," the JCM chairman said in his annual report message

However, he added, "There are expectations that casinos can be a stimulus for economic growth that further expands inbound consumption, which showed significant growth before COVID-19, but in Japanese society, there was a public opinion that 'there were concerns and considerable opposition due to gambling addiction of the younger generation and the social cost of gambling education.'

BY: 홀짜게임