Hokkaido Sets Aside ¥9.98m to Reassess Casino Resort Policy
Hokkaido, Japan – Hokkaido’s fiscal-year 2026 draft budget includes ¥9.98 million (about US$65,000) to study the possibility of hosting an integrated resort with a casino.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The move signals renewed consideration of a casino bid that could reshape regional tourism, investment flows and Japan’s limited IR market.
The allocation, disclosed on February 13, is earmarked for revising the prefecture’s “basic stance on IR”, according to budget documents reviewed by local media. While modest in financial terms, the study marks a clear policy shift: Hokkaido is once again testing the waters after withdrawing from Japan’s first round of casino resort applications in 2019.
A Second Look at Japan’s IR Framework
Japan’s casino legislation permits only three integrated resorts nationwide. The first application round concluded in December 2023 with a single successful bid – the ¥1.51 trillion MGM Osaka project, scheduled to open at the end of 2030.
Governor Naomichi Suzuki has openly questioned why only Osaka secured approval. In January, he urged Japan’s central government to reflect on the limited participation in the first round. That request was more than rhetorical. Even before authorities confirmed that a second application window could run from May to November 2027, Suzuki signaled Hokkaido would continue developing its IR policy framework.
The research funding will support work on two key pillars: establishing the prefecture’s formal “basic stance on IR” and refining what officials call the “Hokkaido-Style IR Concept.” This groundwork would ultimately allow the governor to decide whether to submit a district development plan under Japan’s casino regulations.
For industry observers, the renewed activity matters. With Osaka currently the only approved IR, any additional serious contender would diversify Japan’s future gaming market and potentially rebalance tourism flows beyond the Kansai region.
Related: Japan's Hokkaido Prefecture Could Be Back on the Map as a Potential Casino Host
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Tomakomai Signals Interest
Momentum is not limited to the prefectural office. Suguru Kanazawa, mayor of the port city of Tomakomai, has made clear that the city “will not miss the opportunity” to pursue IR candidate status. Tomakomai has long been viewed as a frontrunner location due to its access to New Chitose Airport and proximity to natural attractions that could complement a resort complex.
Local stakeholders see both promise and risk. An integrated resort could mean new jobs, infrastructure upgrades and international visibility. At the same time, Japan’s IR legislation includes strict entry controls for residents and regulatory oversight designed to mitigate gambling-related harm. For local communities, that balance between economic development and social safeguards remains central.
Hokkaido previously withdrew from IR consideration before the first application round began, citing environmental and community concerns. That history still shapes the conversation today. Any renewed bid would require sustained public consultation and coordination with municipalities and private-sector partners.
Strategic Implications for Japan’s Gaming Market
While ¥9.98 million is a small line item in a prefectural budget, the political signal is more substantial. Japan’s IR market was initially expected to attract multiple international operators. Instead, Osaka emerged as the sole approved project, raising questions about regulatory complexity and local resistance.
If Hokkaido proceeds toward an application in the second round, it could revive international investor interest and test whether Japan’s regulatory model can support multiple large-scale developments.
For now, the funding supports research and dialogue rather than commitment. But in Japan’s tightly controlled casino landscape, even a study budget can mark the beginning of a major strategic shift.
As Governor Suzuki and municipal leaders weigh economic opportunity against social responsibility, Hokkaido’s decision may shape the next chapter of Japan’s integrated resort ambitions.
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