Japan approved plans to build its first casino in Osaka, according to a report that describes the decision as having been taken "last year"1. The approval makes Osaka the site of Japan's first casino development, though the report does not give the date of the decision, the name of the body that issued it, or the cost and opening date of the project1.
The approval is mentioned in reporting on a separate development: warnings issued by Chinese embassies in Asia in March 2024 reminding Chinese nationals to stay away from gambling abroad1. That report states that "Japan greenlighted plans to build its first casino in Osaka last year"1. No further detail on the Osaka project, its license terms, its operator or its timeline appears in that report1.
The same report notes that Macao is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal, and that Macao's gaming revenue last year exceeded MOP$180 billion (US$22.3 billion), 62 percent of pre-pandemic levels1. It also notes that Singapore has two casinos, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, and that Vietnam has three integrated resorts1. Japan's first casino is listed alongside those markets1.
"Japan greenlighted plans to build its first casino in Osaka last year"
What it means for players
Japan's approval of a casino in Osaka does not by itself change the rules for people gambling in Japan today. The report does not describe who will be allowed to enter the Osaka casino, what games it will offer, whether local residents will pay an entry fee or face visit limits, or when it will open1. Those details have not been reported in the material available.
For now, the practical position for anyone in Japan is unchanged: the report gives no information on new venues that are open, no licensing status for the Osaka project beyond the approval itself, and no entry conditions1. Readers looking at how Japan regulates casino entry can check Casinos in Japan: Who Can Go In and Can I Gamble in Japan?.
The Osaka approval sits in a wider regional picture in which Chinese authorities have warned their nationals about gambling overseas, and in which Macao remains the only legal casino market in China1. For players in Macau, China, Singapore and Vietnam, the report describes existing market conditions rather than any change to entry rules1. See Can I Gamble in Macau?, Can I Gamble in China?, Can I Gamble in Singapore? and Can I Gamble in Vietnam?.
What happens next
The report does not set out dated next steps for the Osaka project, and no opening date, construction schedule or licensing milestone is given1. For general background on the project, see When Will the Osaka Casino Resort Open?. For how licensing is checked across the region, see Is This Casino Licensed? Checking Land-Based Casinos Across Asia and Gambling Regulators and Licenses in Asia: Who Licenses What and How to Check.
