The prefectural authorities in Hokkaido (pictured), Japan’s northernmost island, plan to revise by this autumn their “basic stance” regarding a possible tilt at having an integrated resort (IR) with casino.
That is per comment by Naomichi Suzuki, Hokkaido’s governor, during Friday questions from members of the prefectural assembly, according to information reviewed by GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent.
Mr Suzuki stated: “The prefecture plans to revise ‘the basic stance on IR of Hokkaido prefecture’ in autumn 2026.”
He added: “The prefecture will make every effort to steadily advance the review to update it.”
The document is to include information on what is termed a ‘Hokkaido-style IR concept’.
It would in likelihood be the basis for the governor to decide whether to go ahead with the IR initiative, i.e., to make and submit to the national authorities an ‘IR District Development Plan’ as required under the country’s casino-liberalisation framework.
In mid-February, the prefecture’s fiscal-year 2026 draft budget indicated it might earmark JPY9.98 million (US$63,845 currently) for research and a review on having a casino resort.
It is anticipated the prefecture will develop an IR implementation policy, prior to it issuing a request-for-proposal for interested potential partners from the private sector.
A similar setup was mentioned recently by Aichi prefecture on Honshu, when it announced the possibility of trying to have an IR on a marine landfill site that is also home to the Chubu Centrair International Airport, south of Nagoya.
Last week Macau casino business Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd – which had been interested in Japan in the run up to the first application round – said the country remained a “very attractive propostion”.
Also last week, Soo Kim, chairman of United States-based casino and online gaming operator Bally’s Corp – which had expressed interest previously – described Japan is “an extremely attractive market” for IR investment.
Japan’s first round of IR applications, which concluded in December 2023, produced a single successful applicant, Osaka city and prefecture. The JPY1.51-trillion MGM Osaka is due to open at the end of 2030.
A proposed timetable for a second IR application round nationwide – namely May to November 2027 – was announced in December.
In the second week of February, Suguru Kanazawa, mayor of Tomakomai – a Hokkaido port city seen as a frontrunner for IR-candidate status in that province – said it “will not miss the opportunity” to pursue the matter.
Hokkaido had expressed interest prior to Japan’s first round of IR applications, but in the end dropped out of contention in late 2019, before the first round began.
AloJapan.com