Sanae Takaichi was sworn in as PM this week, and a pro-casino stance could bring changes
Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, could breathe new life into the country’s long-delayed casino resort plans. Takaichi, the first woman to lead Japan, took office this week after forming a coalition between her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the pro-casino Japan Innovation Party (Ishin). The alliance has sparked optimism among investors and lawmakers who see her leadership as a potential turning point for Japan’s integrated resort (IR) ambitions.
Takaichi has yet to make a formal statement on casino development, but her record and political ties point toward support. A longtime ally of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, she twice served in his cabinet and backed his economic policies aimed at stimulating regional growth through tourism. Abe was the driving force behind the 2016 Integrated Resort Promotion Law, which opened the door for casino resorts modeled after those in Singapore and Macau.
Japan’s initial IR framework, approved in 2018, authorized up to three casino complexes, but the rollout has been painfully slow. The pandemic halted investor enthusiasm, and only one license—MGM Osaka—has been approved so far. The $8.9 billion project on Osaka Bay is being developed by MGM Resorts and Orix Corp. It is expected to anchor Japan’s gaming industry when completed later this decade.
Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura of Osaka, who now leads the Ishin Party, has been one of the strongest voices for IR expansion. His alignment with Takaichi’s administration strengthens the likelihood of additional casino projects moving forward. Lawmakers recently appointed new gaming regulators, signaling readiness for a fresh round of approvals.
With political alignment between pro-IR forces and growing pressure to boost foreign tourism, Japan may finally see its stalled casino initiative regain momentum. For Takaichi, supporting these developments could reinforce her government’s economic revival strategy while positioning Japan as a major player in Asia’s gaming and hospitality sector.
