Osaka region governor recently said that they would engage prospective integrated resort operators in December. The goal of the governor is to announce the winning bidder by the next spring. Osaka has been one of the three Japanese cities competing for an integrated resort license. The main rival cities are Yokohama and Tokyo.
Osaka city official expects that an integrated resort will at least be opened partially by 2024 before the World Expo meeting, which will be hosted by the city. Casino.org reported that the city wants to take advantage of the summit that will boost tourism in the region. The summit is scheduled for mid-2025.
Osaka Race
Some operators who competed for Osaka license have opted for other cities. Initially, seven operators were in Osaka’s race. Still, for now, only three are remaining-Galaxy Entertainment Group, Genting Singapore, and MGM Resorts International.
What’s Next
Osaka’s city officials are bolstering the chances of the city becoming a home of the integrated resort. Last month, they started the construction of a maritime terminal that will give access to the gaming venue via waterway.
The land transfer time for the gaming property has also been shortened from the original 2022 to mid-2021. As the bidding for the facility gets closer, it’s good for operators seeking the license to convince that they can have the facility operational by 2024 to increase the chances of getting the contract.
