Poker Writer
Casino resorts may be coming to Japan following a landslide win for Sanae Takaichi in the snap prime minister election. Just a few months after Takaichi became the first woman to serve as Japan’s prime minister on October 21st, she called for a snap election on Sunday.
It resulted in a rare supermajority win for the Liberal Democratic Party and the first time since 1947 that it secured more than two-thirds of the lower house majority.
Some of Takaichi’s policies include tough stances on immigration and standing up to China, which has been the main focus of her election win.
Land-Based Gaming Windfall for Japan
Much of the Prime Minister’s vision relates to ways to rejuvenate the Japanese economy. That includes kick-starting land-based gaming efforts. There are currently plans in place to construct three integrated resorts.
Only one plan has received approval so far; a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Orix Corporation in Osaka was approved in 2023. The 2023 round of applications also included a proposal from Nagasaki, which was rejected due to lack of funds. The MGM Osaka resort is projected to debut in Japan’s second-largest city in 2030 with construction now underway.
Future Applicant Candidate Cities
Applications for the next two casino resorts now have an application window between May and November of 2027, so there is plenty of time for cities to put together plans.
Major urban areas are considered to have the advantage in Japan for the casino applications, one senior agency official told the Japan Times:
Major urban areas have an advantage, as it is easier to find big companies eager to participate and secure transparent financing, while rural areas face difficulties on these fronts.
Yokohama withdrew its application after local citizens expressed concerns about what a casino would do socially to the area. Nagasaki is expected to apply again, this time with better funding. Some other cities that considered applications were Wakayama and Fukuoka, but have seemingly ruled them out.
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, is expected to seriously consider a bid. The governor of Hokkaido recently petitioned the Japanese government to review why there has only been one successful application thus far and if the process is worth the effort, considering the low success rate thus far.
Japanese Market Very Attractive to Gaming Companies
Large international firms such as Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, and Hard Rock International have all expressed interest in entering the Japanese market.
The Japanese market is an attractive one of untapped potential, thanks to an aging population, the demographic most likely to regularly visit casinos. It is also a country that enjoys retail shopping centers and high-end restaurants, both of which are common at a glitzy casino resort.
Arcade gaming is also very popular in Japan. There are many multi-floor arcades in the big cities that cater to people who enjoy playing video games. These “gesen” game centers often simulate casino-style games that reward players with tokens or other trinkets.
