In 2018, Japan approved up to three casino developments. Only one integrated resort (IR) has been authorized after seven years.

Throughout her political career, Sanae Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister, has remained loyal to Shinzo Abe. She took office in October. Takaichi has pledged to further advance the development of IRs in order to better realize tax revenue and economic benefits from both domestic and foreign tourism. He is a fervent supporter of Abenomics, policies put in place by the late Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader during his eight-year premiership, which ran from 2012 to 2020.

The 2018 casino bill was the result of Abe's assassination in 2022. The renowned PM believed that casino resorts may make Japan a more interesting location for major conventions and fairs as well as a more appealing leisure travel destination in Asia.

Round Two of Bidding

The majority of casino enterprises in the Land of the Rising Sun gave up on their endeavors due to Japan's drawn-out regulation process. Businesses such as Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, Hard Rock, Melco Resorts, Genting, and Caesars Entertainment eventually left Japan due to their frustration with the country's slow bidding process, which was made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the end, Japan only submitted two bids for what was once thought to be the biggest market potential since China's Macau. Together with local partner Orix Corporation, MGM Resorts was granted permission to build a multibillion-dollar IR in Osaka. Due to financial worries, the Japanese government rejected Casinos Austria's application in Nagasaki.

According to GGRAsia, an online publication that covers casino news around Asia, Japan has started a public comment session that will end on January 16, 2026. The purpose of the public input request is to determine how enthusiastic the Japanese people are about approving more casinos.

On May 6, 2027, the Japan Tourism Agency will formally launch the second round of IR bidding. Development proposals can be submitted by casinos and their prefecture partners until November 5, 2027.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, which is the largest ministry in terms of personnel and is in charge of one-third of all legislation in Japan, includes the Japan Tourism Agency. 

Nagasaki Redo According to reports, two prefectures are interested in the second IR bidding development: Nagasaki and Hokkaido. Only prefectures and localities that desire gaming are permitted to authorize IRs under Japan's casino bill. 

In 2030, MGM Osaka is scheduled to open. With 2,500 hotel rooms, a 3,500-seat theater, 400K square feet of meeting and convention space, several eateries and bars, a shopping center, and a public park, the $8.9 billion project is transforming the artificial island of Yumeshima into a paradise for entertainment and hospitality.

The number of slot machines and table games at the Osaka casino has not been disclosed by MGM. The casino is only allowed to take up 3% of the resort's total internal space by legislation.