--- title: "Japan approves $13.5 bln Osaka resort, country's first casino" description: "TOKYO, April 14 (Reuters) - Japan on Friday approved a plan to build the country's first casino in the western city of Osaka, paving the way for a 1.8 trillion yen ($13.5 billion) resort set to open in 2029, aimed at attracting domestic and international tourist spending." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "Yumeshima" author: "Reuters" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-14-japan-approves-13-5-bln-osaka-resort-countrys-first-casino/" published: "2023-04-14T13:46:21" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 443 --- # Japan approves $13.5 bln Osaka resort, country's first casino > TOKYO, April 14 (Reuters) - Japan on Friday approved a plan to build the country's first casino in the western city of Osaka, paving the way for a 1.8 trillion yen ($13.5 billion) resort set to open in 2029, aimed at attracting domestic and international tourist spending. By Reuters ยท Published 14 April 2023, 15:46 SAST ## Key points - Japan has approved MGM Resorts and Orix Corp's multi-billion dollar casino project on Yumeshima island, with the resort expected to attract millions of tourists and contribute to a post-pandemic economic rebound. The national government has delayed its decision on the rival bid from Casinos Austria International in Nagasaki. - Japan has approved a giant resort complex in Osaka Bay, including casinos, hotels, and shopping mall. - The project is part of an effort to attract tourists and contribute to the economic growth of the region. - It is seen as a prized market for casino operators due to its affluent population and proximity to Asia's wealthy gamblers. - The government has delayed reviewing a similar plan in Nagasaki prefecture. ## Content The giant resort complex located on Yumeshima, a reclaimed island in Osaka Bay due to hold the World Expo in 2025, will also include hotels, a conference centre, shopping mall, museum and ferry terminal, while high-rollers will have access to an adjacent helicopter pad. Casinos were previously illegal in Japan along with other private gambling, but a 2018 integrated resort (IR) law provided exception to casino games such as poker or baccarat at officially approved establishments as part of an effort to attract tourists. Japan is seen as a prized market for casino operators because of its affluent population of 126 million and proximity to Asia's wealthy gamblers, although opinion polls have shown many citizens worry about addiction and crime. U.S. casino operator MGM Resorts International MGM.N and local partner Orix Corp 8591.T have spearheaded the Osaka IR project, with each owning a 40% stake in the company set up to manage the complex. Another 20 companies hold the remaining 20%, according to a local government [document](https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/attach/42448/00000000/gaiyou_20220425.pdf), which said MUFG Bank 8306.T and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp 8316.T would provide 550 billion yen of project financing for the resort. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday said the project would contribute to the economic growth of the Kansai area around Osaka and greater Japan after World Expo 2025, as the country aims for a [post-pandemic rebound](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AP:4295914758&linkedFromStory=true) in tourist spending. The resort is targeting 520 billion yen of revenue annually, mostly from the gaming business, and forecasts it will attract 6 million international tourists and 14 million domestic visitors, the project document showed. MGM Resorts, Orix and Osaka's city and prefecture governments said they welcomed the approval and would work together to develop the project. The national government's decision came after the pro-casino Japan Innovation Party [retained](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL4N36C09V&linkedFromStory=true) the prefectural governor and city mayor offices in Osaka on Sunday. A Mainichi newspaper poll of Osaka residents this month found 45% of respondents in favour of the casino, 38% against and 17% undecided, although women and the elderly were more likely to be opposed. Japan's casino plans were hampered in the past by the [coronavirus pandemic](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL4N2H01L5&linkedFromStory=true) and a [bribery scandal](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AKBN1ZJ2DI&linkedFromStory=true) that led to the arrest of a high-profile lawmaker. Major casino operators Las Vegas Sands Corp LVS.N, Caesars Entertainment Corp and Wynn Resorts Ltd WYNN.O[withdrew](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AKBN22P09B&linkedFromStory=true) from planned projects. Only Osaka and the southwestern prefecture of Nagasaki submitted bids by an April 2022 deadline. The government on Friday said it would need more time to review the Nagasaki plan, led by Casinos Austria International. It did not provide a reason. By Kantaro Komiya (Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Jamie Freed)