According to multiple local media reports, the agency has announced plans to accept applications from local governments for six months starting on 6 May 2027 and closing on 5 November 2027. Only municipalities will be permitted to apply, with private operators required to partner with local authorities rather than submit bids independently.
The announcement follows the publication of a draft Cabinet order setting out the framework for the next application round. The draft has been released for public consultation, allowing stakeholders and members of the public to submit feedback. Once this process concludes, the order will be formally adopted as a regulation under Japan’s Integrated Resorts Act.
Under the legislation, Japan may approve a maximum of three integrated resort locations nationwide. With only MGM’s Osaka project successfully licensed during the initial application round, the government is now able to issue up to two additional licences.
Several local governments are expected to express interest in the second round, including Hokkaido and Nagasaki. Nagasaki was one of only two applicants in the first round. Still, it failed to secure approval after regulators raised concerns about the stability of its financing arrangements and its lack of experience in managing large-scale integrated resorts.
Policymakers view integrated resorts as a long-term economic and tourism strategy. These developments typically combine casino gaming with hotels, convention centres, retail spaces and entertainment venues, with the aim of attracting high-spending international visitors and encouraging longer stays. Casino gaming, while central to the model, remains tightly regulated within a broader framework focused on tourism and regional development.
The application process will require local governments and their private-sector partners to demonstrate financial strength, operational capability and a clear contribution to regional economic growth. Authorities have consistently stressed that only proposals with strong governance and sustainable funding models will be considered.
The renewed push comes as Japan’s Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, instructed the Japan Tourism Agency to actively promote integrated resort development as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Japan’s appeal as a global tourism destination. The ministry oversees the Japan Tourism Agency and plays a central role in casino licensing.
The initiative also comes after an unofficial survey by the central government in late 2023 revealed that a number of prefectures were once again interested in hosting an integrated resort. Although there have been rumours of a second licensing round for months, the agency’s announcement is the most definitive sign that the process will proceed. Several prefectures have already shown interest in applying for new integrated resorts.
Industry observers see the development as a potentially significant moment for Japan’s gaming sector. Formerly speaking to SiGMA News, iGaming consultant John Calderon said the prospect of additional licences would attract strong international interest and investment, while reinforcing Japan’s position as a major future market for integrated resorts.
With the application window now outlined, attention will turn to which local governments step forward and how Japan balances economic ambition with regulatory caution.
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