Osaka takes a new step towards an IR bid

The Osaka City Council approved an IR assessment budget to conduct an environmental impact study for the potential Yumeshima venue.

Japan.- An Osaka integrated resort (IR) seems to be quite possible as the casino industry nears Japan. While the government had already advanced its intentions for it, it continues to move towards a bid.

For that matter, the Osaka City Council approved a special budget worth nearly €76k for the environmental impact assessment.

Osaka speeds up

The Japanese government recently released the draft of its IR Basic Plan and surprised the industry. However, regional authorities won’t waste their time and continue to work towards their future bids.

For that matter, Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura advanced they will launch the IR RFP process before 2020. Moreover, he says the government plans to select Osaka’s IR operator by next boreal spring.

Amid a race to land one of three licences for an IR in Japan, Osaka wants to be ready first. That’s why the authorities have rushed to get their own processes completed first.

MGM in Osaka

The casino industry will soon arrive in Japan but it’s still unclear how soon that will be. However, experts believe that MGM Resorts International would begin works in an Osaka IR by 2021.

According to Sanford C. Bernsetin, the company’s schedule sets such date to get it completed by 2025. The firm cites the company’s CFO, Corey Sanders, during a recent meeting in Las Vegas.