Japanese authorities are planning to reopen the application process for integrated resort (IR) developments that include casinos, with the goal of approving up to two additional projects by the end of 2027.
This move would bring the country closer to the maximum of three IR licenses permitted under current legislation.
According to a reports, Japan’s central government is expected to launch the new round of applications by December 2026, giving potential host locations time to develop their IR District Development Plans—a mandatory requirement under the national framework.
While Hokkaido withdrew from the original round of bids in 2019, the northern island’s capital city, Sapporo, has now shown a revived interest in pursuing an IR project. Tokyo has also emerged as a possible candidate, although the capital has yet to make a formal declaration of intent. Interest in the initiative has been spurred by various feasibility studies conducted in recent years, suggesting a growing openness to participation from Japan’s largest urban centre.
To proceed with the updated initiative, the Japanese government plans to solicit public feedback on a proposed cabinet order outlining the application schedule. This consultation period is set to begin in August 2025 and will run through the end of the year, following the House of Councillors election in July.
Currently, Japan has granted only one IR license. The sole approved project, MGM Osaka, is being developed by MGM Resorts International in partnership with Japanese financial group Orix Corp. It is scheduled to open in 2030 and stands as the flagship example of Japan’s ambitions to leverage IRs as a means of boosting tourism and economic growth.
The country’s IR framework, enshrined in law, allows for a total of three resort licenses nationwide. With MGM Osaka already occupying one of those slots, the upcoming application window will determine which two regions—if any—will secure the remaining approvals.
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