Japan Casino & Integrated Resorts (IR) Guide [2026]
Updated: 1 day ago
Japan's first integrated resort (IR) with a casino is under construction on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay. The Osaka IR is scheduled to open in fall of 2030 and will be operated by MGM Osaka, a company whose core shareholders are MGM Resorts International and ORIX Corporation.
Japanese law allows up to three IR areas nationwide, and the national government will accept applications for the remaining areas from May 6 to November 5, 2027.
This guide covers the Osaka IR and Japan’s IR system, based on official government and company information.
Key facts as of October 2026
Japan legalized casinos only as part of integrated resorts under the "IR Implementation Act of 2018, "and up to 3 IR areas can be certified under this Act.
Osaka is the only certified IR area so far.
Construction of the Osaka IR began on April 24, 2025, with planned opening in fall of 2030.
The operator selected for Osaka IR is MGM Osaka Corporation and the initial investment is approximately JPY 1.513 trillion(approx USD 9.46 billion at JPY 160 = USD 1).
The second application round for the two remaining IR areas runs from May 6 to November 5, 2027.
What is an integrated resort (IR) in Japan?
An integrated resort is a large complex that combines a casino with hotels, international conference centers, exhibition halls, entertainment venues, restaurants and shops.
In Japan, casinos are only allowed inside a government-approved IR area, so a casino can’t operate on its own. The aim is to attract international visitors and business events, with the casino serving as one part of a wider tourism destination. Japan IR model is similar to that of Singapore's IR (Marina Bay Sands, Resorts World Sentosa).
Japan's IR system is based on two laws:
Japanese Law | Year | Main content |
IR Promotion Act | 2016 | Set the basic policy for introducing integrated resorts, effectively opening the door to legal casinos in Japan. |
IR Implementation Act | 2018 | Set the rules for IR certification, casino licensing, entry restrictions and taxes |
Under the IR Implementation Act, the casino gaming area must not exceed 3% of the total floor area of the IR facilities. The Japan Casino Regulatory Commission (JCRC), a national government body established in 2020, licenses and supervises casino operators.
Examples of Japan IR Rules The minimum age is 20. Foreign tourists can enter the casino for free with no limit on visits. Japanese citizens and residents pay JPY 6,000 (about USD 38) for each 24-hour entry and can visit up to 3 times in 7 days and 10 times in 28 days. |
How many IRs can Japan have?
Under the IR Implementation Act, up to 3 IR areas can be approved nationwide.
In the first application round, two plans were submitted:
♦ Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City (MGM Resorts / ORIX) → Certified on April 14, 2023
♦ Nagasaki Prefecture (Huis Ten Bosch area) → Not certified (December 2023)
This leaves 2 IR areas available as of 2026.
The 2027 second application round
In March 2026, the Japanese government issued a Cabinet Order setting the second application period for IR area development plans from May 6, 2027 to November 5, 2027.
As of October 20, 2026, the following local governments have publicly taken steps toward a possible application. Neither has submitted an application to the national government.
Prefecture | Status as of October 20, 2026 |
Aichi | Proposed site on the island of Chubu Centrair International Airport. Started a RFP process for an operator on April 1, 2026. Detailed proposals are due March 23, 2027. |
Hokkaido | Released a draft IR policy on September 7, 2026. The draft does not name a candidate site and does not confirm an application. |
Aichi Prefecture is in central Japan, roughly halfway between Tokyo and Osaka, and its capital is Nagoya, Japan’s fourth-largest city. It’s one of the country’s biggest manufacturing centers and home to Toyota.
Hokkaido Prefecture is Japan’s northernmost and largest prefecture, covering an entire island. Its capital is Sapporo. It’s known for wide-open nature, cool summers and snowy winters, which make it a major ski destination, especially Niseko. It’s also one of Japan’s main farming and seafood regions.
Osaka IR (MGM Osaka) Overview
Item | Details |
Name | Osaka IR (Osaka Yumeshima Integrated Resort) |
Website | |
Location | Yumeshima, Konohana Ward, Osaka City |
Operator | MGM Osaka Corporation |
Core shareholders | MGM Resorts Japan LLC, ORIX Corporation |
Construction start | April 24, 2025 |
Planned completion | End of July 2030 |
Planned opening | Fall 2030 |
Initial investment | Approx. JPY 1.513 trillion |
Total floor area | Approx. 850,000 m² (plan as of September 2025) |
Hotel rooms | Approx. 2,500 rooms in 3 hotels |
Expected annual visitors | Approx. 20 million |
Expected annual revenue | Approx. JPY 520 billion |
When will MGM Osaka open?
The Osaka IR is scheduled to open in fall of 2030.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 24, 2025, and full completion is planned for the end of July 2030. Osaka originally aimed to open the IR in 2025, in time for the World Expo. The opening was pushed back several times, mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other delays, and is now set for fall 2030.
Where is the Osaka IR?
The Osaka IR is being built on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay. Construction of the island began in the 1980s, but for years it remained largely undeveloped. The IR site covers about 49 hectares (about 120 acres), next to the Expo 2025 Osaka grounds on the same island. Yumeshima is about 11 km (7 mi) from central Osaka. It’s connected to the mainland by bridge and tunnel, and the Osaka Metro Chuo Line stops on the island at Yumeshima Station.
■ Accessibility from Osaka city center
Train: Yumeshima Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line opened in January 2025. The trip from Osaka Station (Umeda) takes about 30 minutes with one transfer.
Future rail access: In August 2025, Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City published a study concluding that extensions of the JR Sakurajima Line and the Keihan Nakanoshima Line were the better options. No opening date has been set.
Other access: The IR plans include a large bus terminal and a ferry terminal with a boat landing. Boat piers are also planned so that small passenger boats can connect Yumeshima with Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Kobe Airport (UKB).
■ International access
Kansai International Airport (KIX): The main international gateway for the Kansai region, with flights from across Asia and beyond. It’s about 30 km (19 mi) south of Yumeshima, and the trip takes roughly an hour by road. Planned boat service would add a direct sea route.
Kobe Airport (UKB): About 15 km (9 mi) west of Yumeshima, across Osaka Bay. It began international charter flights in 2025 and is also planned to be linked to the island by boat.
Shinkansen(Bullet train) : Domestic visitors from Tokyo and other cities can take the bullet train to Shin-Osaka Station (approx. 2.5hr) and connect to Yumeshima by train.
What will the Osaka IR include besides the casino?
Facility | Main features |
Casino | Gaming area of approx. 23,000 m² (approx. 248,000 sq ft), about 3% of total floor area; approx. 470 table games and approx. 6,400 electronic games* |
Hotels | 3 hotels with approx. 2,500 rooms in total: MGM Osaka, MGM Villas and MUSUBI Hotel |
International conference center | Largest hall holds 6,000+ people; all rooms combined hold 12,000+ people |
Exhibition facility | Approx. 20,000 m² (approx. 215,000 sq ft) of exhibition space |
Entertainment | Yumeshima Theater (approx. 3,500 seats) |
Attraction facilities | Kansai Japan House, Japan Food Pavilion, Garden Theater and others |
Visitor services | Kansai Tourism Center, bus terminal, ferry terminal |
Dining and retail | Restaurants, luxury shops and other services |
*Reported figures from construction documents. The official page gives only the 3% cap.470 tables and 6,400 machines come from construction documents reported by the Yomiuri Shimbun in January 2026
MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) is central to Japan’s IR plans because the casino is meant to support the resort, not to be its main purpose. Casino profits help fund the large conference and exhibition facilities the law requires, with the aim of drawing international business travelers year-round. |
Who is investing in the Osaka IR?
The initial investment is approximately JPY 1.513 trillion (about USD 9.46 billion). That consists of approximately JPY 983 billion (about USD 6.14 billion) in equity and approximately JPY 530 billion (about USD 3.31 billion) in loans from a bank group led by MUFG Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
In September 2025, the amount was increased by approximately JPY 243 billion (about USD 1.52 billion) from the previous figure of approximately JPY 1.27 trillion (about USD 7.94 billion), due to higher construction material and labor costs. *USD figures are approximate, at USD 1 = JPY 160.
Shareholding ratios
MGM Resorts Japan LLC: approx. 44%
ORIX Corporation: approx. 44%
22 minority shareholders, mainly local companies: approx. 13%
Note: The total does not equal 100% due to rounding
Who operates the Osaka IR?
MGM Osaka Corporation builds and operates the Osaka IR. The company was established on December 23, 2021, as Osaka IR Co., Ltd. and changed to its current name in May 2025.
Its core shareholders are MGM Resorts Japan LLC (the Japanese entity of MGM Resorts International, headquartered in Las Vegas) and ORIX Corporation (headquartered in Tokyo).To operate the casino, MGM Osaka must obtain a casino business license from the Japan Casino Regulatory Commission before opening. The timing of the license has not yet been announced.
Osaka IR expected revenue and economic impact
According to the Osaka IR area development plan prepared by Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City and MGM Osaka:
Annual estimates
Visitors: Approx. 20 million
Domestic: approx. 14 million
International: approx. 6 million
Revenue: Approx. JPY 520 billion (about USD 3.25 billion)
Gaming: approx. JPY 420 billion (about USD 2.63 billion)
Non-gaming: approx. JPY 100 billion (about USD 625 million)
Payments to Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City: Approx. JPY 106 billion (about USD 663 million) per year, split equally between the prefecture and the city. This comes from two payments required under the IR law, separate from regular taxes:
Casino levy: approx. JPY 74 billion (about USD 463 million). Under the IR law, the operator pays 30% of its gross gaming revenue as a levy, half to the national government and half to the local government. This figure is the local share.
Entry fees: approx. JPY 32 billion (about USD 200 million). Japanese residents pay ¥6,000 (about USD 38) per entry, with ¥3,000 going to the national government and ¥3,000 to the local government. This figure is the local share.
In addition, Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City expect approx. JPY 14 billion (about USD 88 million) per year in tax revenue.
Economic ripple effect: Approx. JPY 1.14 trillion (about USD 7.13 billion)
Figures as stated in the Osaka IR area development plan. USD figures are approximate, at USD 1 = JPY 160.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Does Japan have legal casinos now?
No. As of October 2026, no casino is operating in Japan. The first, in the Osaka IR, is scheduled to open in fall of 2030.
Q. Can foreign tourists enter the Osaka casino?
Yes. Foreign tourists visiting Japan can enter the casino without an entry fee and without a limit on the number of entries. They must show their passport.
Q. How much is the entry fee for Japanese residents?
Japanese citizens and foreign residents of Japan pay JPY 6,000 per entry. One entry is valid for 24 hours. Entries are limited to 3 in 7 consecutive days and 10 in 28 consecutive days.
Q. What is the minimum age to enter a casino in Japan?
The minimum age is 20.
Q. How many casinos will Japan have?
Japanese law allows up to three integrated resort areas. Osaka is the only one certified so far. Applications for the remaining areas will be accepted from May 6 to November 5, 2027.
Q. Who regulates casinos in Japan?
The Japan Casino Regulatory Commission (JCRC), a national government body, licenses and supervises casino operators.
Q. Where do the entry fees and casino revenue go?
Entry fees are split equally between the national government and Osaka Prefecture/Osaka City. The operator pays 30% of gross gaming revenue, split 15% to the national government and 15% to Osaka Prefecture/Osaka City.
Sources
Osaka Prefecture, IR Promotion Bureau (https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/)
Osaka City, Osaka IR official website
MGM Osaka Corporation Company profile (https://mgmosaka.co.jp/company/)
Osaka IR area development plan (summary), as of September 2025
Japan Tourism Agency, IR-related information
Japan Casino Regulatory Commission (https://www.jcrc.go.jp/)
Aichi Prefecture, Chubu Centrair International Airport Island IR request for proposals (https://www.pref.aichi.jp/)
Hokkaido Government, draft IR policy (September 7, 2026)
Written and reviewed by Prism Solutions Inc. (Las Vegas)
Prism Solutions, the Las Vegas–based U.S. subsidiary of Techfirm Holdings, provides system development and consulting for Japan's integrated resort (IR) casino development.