Opening of Japan's inaugural legal casino complex in Osaka
The long-awaited construction of the MGM Osaka casino resort has officially commenced on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay. The groundbreaking marks the end of a more than 15-year political and economic process for the resort.
The casino resort is a joint venture between US company MGM Resorts International and Japanese financial services provider Orix Corp, each with a 42.5% stake. The $8.9 billion project is expected to be completed by fall 2030.
The MGM Osaka casino resort is poised to become the highest-grossing casino in Asia, with an annual gross gaming revenue of around $6 billion (around €5.3 billion). The casino area will legally occupy a maximum of 3% of the total area and will house around 6,400 slot machines and 470 gaming tables.
The construction of the resort is logistically complex due to its proximity to the Expo 2025 site. Construction work will be minimized during the Expo and will be separated by two-meter-high walls and noise barriers. On busy public days, construction work will be reduced, and the use of heavy machinery will be postponed.
Osaka, Japan's third-largest city and the economic heart of the Kansai region, with over 22 million inhabitants, is ideally connected to international and national traffic flows through its location at the Osaka-Kansai International Airport and the high-speed rail network. This strategic location makes it an ideal spot for a project like the MGM Resort.
Osaka has a long history as a trading center and a strong focus on service and tourism industries. Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura, who has provided political support for the bid for a resort license, expressed optimism that the resort would be a catalyst for further growth in the region.
The complex will include three hotels with around 2,500 rooms, 30,000 square meters of exhibition space, a theater with 3,500 seats, and conference rooms for up to 6,000 participants.
To keep organized crime away from the project, a special Organized Crime Elimination Council was established in 2024. The number of visits per week is limited to three for all visitors, and an entrance fee for Japanese citizens visiting the casino is approximately 21 USD (around 18 EUR), with Osaka residents paying double that amount.
Governor Yoshimura and other local politicians attended the ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction work. The MGM Osaka casino resort is considered a key measure to strengthen tourism and the regional economy in the Kansai area.
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