An aerial view of the proposed site for an integrated casino resort in Osaka, Japan. (Image: Takumi Harada / AP)

Japanese media reported Saturday that casino operator Osaka IR KK has waived its right to withdraw from its plan to build an integrated resort in Osaka, making it likely that the facility will open sometime late in 2030.

The integrated resort would be the first of its kind of Japan, which has been moving towards opening its first casino since the nation’s government passed legislation allowing for such resorts in 2018.

After Long Delay, Japanese Casino Finally Moving Forward

The Osaka resort is primarily owned by MGM Resorts International and Japanese firm Orix, each of which owns a 40 percent stake in the project. The complex will be built on Yumeshima, a reclaimed island in Osaka Bay which is also slated to host the World Expo in 2025. 

Along with a casino, the integrated resort is expected to include a shopping mall, hotels, a ferry terminal, a conference center, a museum, and even a helicopter pad allowing for upscale access for VIP clients. 

Initially, Japan had hoped to have at least one integrated casino resort up and running by the time of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. However, concerns over problem gambling, the availability and price of feasible real estate for major resorts, and local opposition to projects quickly made it apparent that this deadline wasn’t going to be reached.

Just how far back the timeline would be pushed still came as a surprise to many observers. In Osaka, there were initially hopes that the resort would be up and running in time for the World Expo, with MGM citing early 2025 as a potential opening date for the integrated resort in the city – if the Japanese government provided all necessary approvals by 2021.

Those approvals eventually came, but not until April 2023. That’s when plans were officially unveiled to build the 1.08 trillion yen ($7.6 billion) resort, which was then set to open sometime in 2029.

World Expo Could Further Delay Resort Construction

That timeline has since been moved to late 2030, but there are still more potential delays that could threaten that opening date. The organizers of the World Expo have pushed Osaka officials to delay construction on the resort – which will be located next to the exposition venue – for a full six months during the event. 

Osaka’s prefectural and city governments have signaled that they are against this, fearing more delays for the casino and additional construction costs for operators. On the other hand, business leaders throughout Japan and Expo organizers want the pause, as they fear construction will negatively impact the event experience, reducing public interest.

While the Osaka integrated resort looks on track to be the first in Japan, it may not be the last. Despite the challenges of building in Japan’s largest city, there are still developers looking to open a resort in Tokyo, including Japanese real estate developer Mori Building. 

At one time, Yokohama also looked like a likely host city for a casino resort. However, Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka withdrew the city from consideration in 2021, citing strong local opposition to such a project. Several major developers, including Galaxy Entertainment and Melco, had previously expressed interest in building in the city.