The prefectural assembly for Hokkaido in Japan will receive next Wednesday (November 26) a draft document on the likely “basic stance” of that nation’s northernmost main island regarding hosting an integrated resort (IR) with casino.
That is according to multiple media reports, citing knowledge of the document’s contents. Reportedly, the paper does not specify a candidate location for Hokkaido if the prefecture makes a bid under any new national government process. But the draft is said to give an update on the city of Tomakomai’s efforts so far, and the document would also be the basis for the prefecture to decide whether to tilt for an IR at all.
The draft document is said to outline four key topics: the purpose of having an IR; the functions and size of any IR facility; identification of a priority candidate site; and countermeasures against possible social harm linked to gambling.
In August, the Hokkaido prefectural government sent a survey to the 179 municipalities in the prefecture asking for their views on the IR topic.
In October, Kyodo News said a new round of applications might open a soon as next year. It also reported that Hokkaido and Nagasaki prefectures “might be interested, among others,” in seeking to host an IR.
For a first round of bidding, Hokkaido opted in 2019 not to pitch, and Nagasaki pitched in 2022, but in 2023 was not approved by the national government, due to funding concerns.
Earlier this month it was reported that Tomokomai had the backing of several neighbouring local governments to be Hokkaido’s candidate city in a fresh push.
In September the mayor of Hokkaido’s Hakodate city was reported as saying his community was in “no position” currently to work toward hosting an IR. In August it had been reported Hakodate had said in its response to the Hokkaido survey, that it was interested.
The reports come against the backdrop of possible national-policy moves. Japan now has a pro-IR prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, the first woman to take that post.
The only Japanese community approved for an IR during the first-round application process, which concluded in December 2023, was Osaka prefecture and city, on the southern central coast of Honshu.
MGM Osaka, a venture between MGM Resorts International and Japan’s Orix Corp – with smaller investment from other Japanese corporations – is due to open at the end of 2030.
