The First Casino Resort in Japan Expected to Open in 2030

The first casino resort in Osaka, Japan, may open at some point late in 2030, a local media outlet suggests. The move comes at a time when the main operator reportedly plans to forgo its right to exit the project without penalty, a report from Nikkei reveals.

The large-scale development has seen several delays and setbacks. Back in December, the construction of the integrated resort project began. The development had a price tag of $8.6 billion at the time, but several setbacks inflated the price, pushing it to above $9 billion.

However, as suggested in the latest media report, the project may gain significant traction soon. Per that report, Osaka IR KK is expected to start the preparatory construction work at some point this month. Provided that there are no further hiccups and setbacks, the first casino resort in the country may welcome its first visitors late in 2030.

The Large Scale Project Will Offer Convention Facilities, Hotel Accommodation

Last month, the Bureau International des Exposition (BIE), the body in charge of the World Fair that is also popular as Expo 2025, asked the construction of the project to be put on hold for six months. This represented another unexpected setback for the project.

The Osaka integrated resort is a joint venture between Orix Corporation and the leading gaming and hospitality giant, MGM Resorts International. The project plans to use 52 acres on Yumeshima Island, an artificial island with a total size of 700 acres in Osaka Bay.

The massive project is expected to become a tourist hotspot, offering accommodation via three hotels with a total of 2,500 rooms, convention facilities, shopping and dining outlets, among other amenities.

Casino gambling is expected to be offered at the integrated resort. Still, considering the size of the project, the casino floor will only take 3% or a tiny fraction of the integrated resort’s total indoor area.

Similar to other countries within the Asia region, Japan has strict rules when it comes to gambling. Still, the country is exploring options to capitalize on the opportunity to boost tourism and the integrated resort in Osaka is one such project.