Published on: October 24, 2025, 09:47h.
Updated on: October 24, 2025, 09:47h.
- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shows strong support for Integrated Resort (IR) casinos
- MGM Osaka is anticipated to launch Japan’s inaugural casino by late 2030
Sanae Takaichi made headlines this week, becoming Japan’s first female Prime Minister. Her leadership may prove advantageous for international casino operators interested in entering the Japanese market.
Takaichi’s rise to the Prime Minister role followed the resignation of Shigeru Ishiba, alongside his Cabinet, on Tuesday. Shortly thereafter, Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) aligned with the Innovation Party, allowing her to gain a slim majority and take office.
Takaichi secured 237 votes in the National Diet’s House of Representatives, surpassing the majority requirement by just four votes. The opposition leader, Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party, received 149 votes.
As the fifth consecutive LDP prime minister, Takaichi aims to stabilize leadership after multiple transitions in light of Shinzo Abe’s tragic assassination in September 2022. Her term is also expected to revive conversations about casino-integrated resorts (IR).
IR Reopening
In 2018, Japanese lawmakers enacted a casino legislation permitting the establishment of up to three resorts. However, an extensive regulatory and bidding process led major players, including Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, Hard Rock International, and Melco Resorts, to withdraw their proposals.
The only approved bid comes from MGM Resorts, currently developing a $9 billion project on Osaka’s Yumeshima Island in collaboration with Japanese financial giant Orix Corporation. Japan is allowed to issue two more casino licenses, pending a new bidding process.
In her inaugural address as Prime Minister, Takaichi vowed to bolster Japan’s economy and create a “growth strategy council.”
“I am dedicated to serving our nation and the Japanese people, determined to push forward persistently regardless of circumstances. My goal is to cultivate a robust economy, turning public concern about current and future challenges into renewed hope,” Takaichi stated.
She later specified that her newly appointed Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Yasushi Kaneko, has been tasked with “advancing the development of IRs” and maximizing tax revenue and economic benefits from both international and local tourism.
Abe was pivotal in establishing Japan as a casino market, advocating for economic diversification through enhanced leisure tourism, with the vision that large-scale integrated resorts featuring casinos would draw visitors from China, South Korea, and beyond.
MGM Osaka Expectations
MGM Osaka is on track to commence operations in late 2030. Officials predict the casino resort will welcome six million international visitors and 14 million domestic guests during its inaugural year. Japanese citizens will face a ¥3,000 (US$20) fee to gamble, with Osaka residents required to pay double.
The integrated resort is set to feature 2,500 high-end hotel rooms, a 3,500-seat auditorium, comprehensive conferencing facilities, numerous dining options, and a retail center.
As for gaming, the legislation restricts the casino area to over 3% of the total indoor space of the resort. While MGM has yet to disclose specific details, it is anticipated to have around 2,000 slot machines and 200 live dealer table games.