Osaka casino operator will be selected in 2020

The governor announced the authorities will pick the Osaka casino operator in the spring of 2020.

Japan.- The Japanese archipelago will soon see the arrival of three gaming venues. Osaka is confident it will score an integrated resort (IR) for itself and made a key announcement.

Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura said the Osaka casino operator will be announced in the spring of 2020. The government will receive proposals from international companies and plans to partner with the best suitor.

The prefecture expects to land an IR licence in order to push tourism in the area. It hopes to open it on Yumeshima island in 2025.

Japan is the main target for offshore companies

Companies all over the world are setting their sights on the upcoming casino market in Japan. However, while it has not been established which cities will host the integrated resorts, MGM Resorts is confident that Osaka will be the first one to open a facility.

Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, said to Bloomberg Dayberak: Middle East that the company is focusing on developing an integrated resort in Osaka. “We believe Osaka will be the first IR location,” he said.

“The government is very anxious to get the World Expo 2025 site in Osaka developed soon,” said Murren. The CEO added that the fact that the expo is in Osaka makes him give the city the edge over the other two IR locations, despite that none have been officially confirmed.

“I am confident Osaka will be one of the three [IR sites] and I am working hard for MGM to be the IR operator in Osaka,” Murren reiterated. “We’re meeting with Japanese companies and hope to form a Japanese consortium. We’re trying to outwork our competitors a little bit, so we’ll see,” he added.