Japan’s national government has taken a formal step toward reopening applications for new integrated resorts (IRs), including casino gaming, with a draft Cabinet order outlining a proposed timeline for the next selection round. If confirmed, local governments will be able to submit bids between May and November 2027, marking the first meaningful restart of the process since the initial licensing phase was disrupted by the pandemic.
The framework, released by the Japan Tourism Agency, would allow prefectures and designated cities to propose large-scale resort developments under the country’s Integrated Resorts Act. Media and political commentary has already pointed to Hokkaido and Nagasaki Prefecture as potential candidates, with local officials indicating that early-stage planning discussions are underway.
To date, only one IR has received national approval: the MGM Osaka development, led by MGM Resorts and Orix, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2030. While Japan’s original framework allows for up to three IR licenses nationwide, Osaka remains the sole approved project, leaving room for up to two additional developments in a second round.
The announcement has also reignited interest from international operators. Hard Rock International has publicly reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the Japanese market, again highlighting Hokkaido as a preferred location. With a clearer national timeline now emerging, attention is likely to build around which regions — and which global partners — will step forward as Japan positions integrated resorts as part of its broader push toward high-value, longer-stay tourism.