Osaka changed its plans for an IR opening

Interested operators had expressed its concern about the short time they have to construct a resort before the Expo

Japan.- The main idea for a possible IR opening in Osaka was before the 2025 World Expo but the plans has changed. Mayor Ichiro Matsui did a press conference on Friday and said that they will accept bidders who commit to open in 2026. 

“We do not need to give up on Spring 2025 [for opening].If we are working together and then impose an unreasonable condition, we couldn’t really call ourselves ‘partners’, ” the mayor explained. 

Interested operators had expressed its concern about the short time they have to construct a resort before the Expo. Also, this push to build fast the resort can have consequences in the preparation of the 2025 World Expo.

According to officials of the city and prefecture, adjustments are now being made to indicate that an IR opening during the 2026 fiscal year will be permitted in the operator recruitment criteria, to be published by the end of the year.

During the last months, Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura had meetings with seven interested international IR operators and explained what he thinks about this change of dates. “Our efforts would be meaningless if no firm accepts the public tender.”

Some big gaming operators companies already quit to the idea of invest in Osaka and now think in Yokohama. The ones that still are interested in Osaka are MGM Resorts International and Japanese financial services group Orix Corp; the Japan unit of Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd; and Genting Singapore Ltd, a unit of Malaysian-based Genting group.