Osaka Casino Resort Opening Date Delayed Again

The Osaka casino resort project that was slated to open in 2029 has again been delayed and a new date of autumn 2030 has been announced.

The local government sent the development plan for the resort in April last year, but had to be amended and re-sent and the Osaka government which was only finally approved early this year, but the local government has also stated that the costs for construction have gone up also by over 17%. Originally MGM Resorts who won the rights to build the resort in Japan said that the initial cost to develop would be $10 billion.

At present the final approved contracts with the Osaka government and contractors Orix along with MGM Resorts have not been signed but all parties are hoping this will take place this month given the long delays in finalising the central government’s approval.

The whole resort is planned to be built on an artificial island in the region of Yumeshima which lies on Osaka Bay.

The long overdue process for casino resorts has been ongoing since 2019 and originally had 3 resorts slated, that has now dwindled to currently one with soaring costs in construction, stronger laws towards gambling and higher than expected gambling taxes installed by the Japanese government.