First Casino in Japan Approved – What Comes Next?

The first Japanese land-based casino is finally on the horizon. It’s time to take a closer look at what it will offer. Additionally, we will shed some light and explore the legal context behind the current situation.

First Casino in Japan – Long Overdue

The news came on 14 April 2023 when the JP government revealed its approval for the first Japanese casino in history. It’s no humble project, either.

The authorities plan to establish a massive complex in the city of Osaka. The gaming venue will be built on Yumeshima, which is an artificial island in the western part of the country.

The project is estimated to cost around the equivalent of $8 billion in JP yen and is projected to be completed by 2029. The casino has multiple backers behind it, including the city of Osaka and MGM Resorts – the American gambling behemoth responsible for some of the largest US casino complexes, among others. Each party has varying stakes in this venture, so all stand to profit from it.

Amenities at the JP Land-Based Casino

As for what it will hold, the first casino resort in Japan is slated to be a massive undertaking. Alongside the usual gaming halls, it will include some of the following facilities:

As you can see, the backers behind the land-based casino project plan on going big from the start. After all, they must be able to hit the expected $3.8 billion yearly revenue mark somehow.

Who Is the First Japanese Casino For?

While Japan is no stranger to gambling, it has held out for a long time to create a major-league gambling scene. Small-scale operations are quite popular with the Japanese public, with pachinko halls readily available in every major city.

However, the authorities have, thus far, been apprehensive about permitting major operations such as the one envisioned here. The goal of the first casino in Japan is to attract tourists. Japan already has a thriving tourism sector, and this venture will prove very useful in strengthening it even further.

The plans are nothing if not ambitions, with estimations of 6 million international visitors per year. The expected number of domestic tourists is calculated at around 14 million. The goals are certainly ambitions, and it will be very interesting to see how it plays out.

The local population’s take on the project is more difficult to grasp. A significant part of Japanese residents is either against or unsure about further allowances for gambling in the country. Their view is certainly shaped by the rate of gambling addiction among their fellow countrymen, which stands at around 2%.

However, the majority seem to be in favour of expanding the gambling business. 45% of Osaka residents agree that this project should be carried out to fruition, making it the largest of the groups polled on the topic. It’s no surprise that many Japanese citizens would be interested in more accessible gambling venues. After all, online casinos for Japanese players are becoming more and more popular.

Why the Wait?

It’s clear that this is an enormous enterprise by any measure. The project wasn’t developed overnight. So why is the first casino in Japan being announced only in 2023? As it happens, this was stuck in planning limbo for quite a long time.

For a long time, Japanese gambling laws were very strict, but they were due for a change. The first clues came back in 2016 when the government introduced legislation that would pave the way for this kind of casino resort in Japan.

In 2018, a law was passed that legally permitted games, such as poker and baccarat. Still, no major developments would occur for a couple of years. Initially, some plans were to be announced in 2020. But that is also when the global pandemic reared its ugly head, and Japanese authorities were preoccupied with that.

Now that COVID is mostly an afterthought, officials have the opportunity to consider this project fully. While it may have been announced officially, its future is not fully clear. Specifically, this is due to the political situation. While the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has been a long-term supporter of the idea, there’s no guarantee that other political actors will show the same approval.

This is not some scare rant meant to cast doubt on the establishment of the first Japanese casino. It will be built, but development will conclude in 2029, at best. If other more conservative or gambling-averse parties gain power, the scope of the venture might change. Still, given the level of support from local politicians, we don’t expect many alterations to the original designs.

What Comes After the First Japanese Casino?

It has been a difficult battle to get the first casino in Japan approved. There are no other plans for developing similar establishments in the near future. However, that doesn’t mean that expanding the Japanese gambling industry is implausible.

If the revenue hits expectations, it may pave the way for more gambling complexes in the country. After all, we all know how good cash flow tends to influence people. Experts have made predictions that a Japanese gambling industry supported by three premium resorts would total $20 billion annually. That would certainly be a motivating factor in opening new venues.

Popular Questions

If you have any questions about the Japan casino opening, feel free to check out the FAQ section below. We have gathered the most common queries online and presented them alongside brief and succinct answers.

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