The future of Japan’s casino landscape has entered a high-velocity phase following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s historic victory in the country’s snap election.
For the first time since the 1947 establishment of Japan’s modern parliament, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has secured a two-thirds majority in the lower house, 316 out of 465 seats.
This “supermajority” provides Takaichi with a definitive mandate to override the upper house and implement her “economic rejuvenation” blueprint, which explicitly prioritizes the advancement of land-based gaming through Integrated Resorts (IR).
Accelerating the IR Mandate
Since taking office as Japan’s first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi has directed the Tourism Minister to expedite the 2018 IR implementation law, a policy she championed as far back as 2013. While MGM Resorts International and Orix Corporation have already begun construction on their ¥1.27 trillion (£6.4bn) project in Osaka, two of the three legally permitted licenses remain unclaimed.
The Japanese Tourism Agency has officially set a new application window for local governments from May 6, 2027, to November 5, 2027. This timeline gives interested regions like Nagasaki, Wakayama, and Hokkaido a clear path to finalize development plans with international partners such as Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts.
Economic Potential vs. The Black Market
Takaichi’s push is driven by severe economic pressures, including an aging population and a ¥1.24tn (£6.2bn) annual illicit online gambling handle.
By legalizing and regulating integrated resorts, the administration aims to convert this “lost” revenue into critical state tax receipts while stimulating record growth in the Japanese stock market, which surged to a record high of 56,363 points following the election results.
