News On Japan

When Will the First Integrated Resort Open in Japan?

Oct 25 (News On Japan) - There have been efforts to open a casino in Japan for several decades. Back in 2000, the mayor of Tokyo proposed building a casino on the artificial island of Odaiba that sits just off the coast of the capital.

However, strict legislation in Japan meant that this vision would not see the light of day.

There have been several other attempts to bring casinos to the land of the rising sun in the years that followed, but it took until 2018 for lawmakers to finally get rules on the statute book that would allow such establishments to operate in the country.

More than six years on, there are still no casinos operating in Japan. So, when can we expect the doors to open and the roulette wheels to begin spinning?

The Case for Integrated Resorts in Japan

Not all casinos are created equal. There are the tiny slot machine parlours that you might find in a British town centre, the larger casinos that operate from many major cities in European countries, and then there are the giant integrated resorts that tower over the desert sand in Las Vegas.

But what is an integrated resort and why has this been chosen as the operating model for Japan?

Integrated resorts were invented in Vegas by industry juggernauts like Kirk Kirkorian as a way to create a more diversified offering.

In today’s market, online platforms like PokerStars Casino offer a huge variety of games, including classic table and card games, modern video slots, and innovative live dealer options like Joker’s Wheel and Red Door Roulette. These can be played from almost anywhere with an internet connection, removing the need for players to physically travel to a casino to have a flutter.

Integrated resorts work best for Japan as they create a greater pull for tourists, the primary target market for the country’s planned casinos.

Following the model of Vegas and the regional examples of Singapore and Macao, Japan hopes to attract more tourists through the creation of one-stop-shops of entertainment through an offering of live music, fine dining, boutique shopping, and live sports.

No Spades in the Ground

But building such a large facility is expensive and time-consuming, assuming you can find the land suitable for building on. And that has been a long process all on its own.

This legislation passing was only the first step in a long journey. It then fired the starting pistol on a bidding process where cities and regions had to compete for the right to play host to the first casino in Japan.

The original plan was to allow three cities or regions to be granted permission, but only two areas (Osaka and Kyushu / Nagasaki) made a submission in the first round. However, of the two, only Osaka has been awarded the right to build a casino.

Kyushu / Nagasaki may still get the green light too as its application is being reviewed.

In early October 2024, Osaka handed over much of the land intended for the construction of the resort. 46 of the 49 hectares are now in the possession of the casino’s joint venture partners through a lease that’s been granted for an initial term of 35 years.

When Will Osaka’s Casino Open?

We are likely going to have to wait a further five years to see Osaka’s casino open. Back in April 2023, when the city was first successful in its bid to host a resort, the BBC reported that it wouldn’t open until 2029.

This has already been pushed back to 2030, with little prospect of any acceleration of the programme. As we have seen all the way through, Japan is happy to take its time with this. It wants to get it right the first time, so slow and steady is the way it plans to win this race.

Before then, architectural designs and technical specifications need to be completed. The land also needs remediation works before any construction materials can be placed on it. In particular, efforts to prevent soil liquefaction are required.

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

The Tokaido Shinkansen resumed service at 7:00 p.m. on April 30th after a power outage forced a suspension of operations, but major delays continued to affect the timetable.

Shizuoka Governor Heita Suzuki announced on April 30th that the prefecture will implement its “Cool Biz” dress code throughout the year starting in May 2025. Previously limited to the warmer months from May through October, the initiative encourages relaxed attire for government workers, such as going without neckties, to create a more comfortable working environment.

Vietnam’s national pavilion finally opened on April 30th -- 17 days behind schedule -- after delays in exhibit preparations kept it closed during the April 13th launch of the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

The rules surrounding benefits for parents on childcare leave were tightened in April due to concerns over the practice known as 'aiming to miss nursery placement.'

The "phantom bridge," a Hokkaido heritage site in the Tokachi region known for appearing and disappearing with the seasons, has begun drawing visitors again in 2025 as its elusive form grows increasingly fragile.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Web3 NEWS

Across Japan, labor shortages driven by an aging and shrinking population have become a pressing challenge. In response, companies are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to fill the gaps. One such future-oriented development is unfolding at a state-of-the-art synthetic rubber plant in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture.

Three months after a January 2025 road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, that left a truck driver missing, the incident has drawn national attention to Japan's aging water infrastructure, prompting municipalities to adopt a new AI-based pipe inspection system.

If you are still hesitating whether to enter the cryptocurrency market, now is the best time to act. With the launch of the stablecoin RLUSD beta version on its official ledger XRPL and Ethereum network, market confidence in XRP has rapidly increased.

Do you want to change your look and do something bold like a buzz cut but are not ready for a commitment?

Kazuki Tomono of Daiichi Juken Group performed his new short program for the upcoming season targeting the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics during the Prince Ice World show held in Yokohama on April 26th.

As counterfeit pharmaceuticals continue to spread worldwide, Japanese optical and AI technologies are playing a critical role in protecting lives.

At the Osaka-Kansai Expo, a uniquely shaped robot is helping guide people with visual impairments.

A major social media backlash is unfolding over a historic shrine in Kyoto City, prompting a barrage of angry messages including threats such as "I’ll curse you" and "I’ll beat you to death."