Sasebo Business Group Urges Fresh Push for Japan Casino Resort

The Sasebo Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan’s Nagasaki prefecture is calling for the city to revive efforts to secure an integrated resort with a casino. The chamber submitted a written request to Sasebo mayor Daisuke Miyajima on Monday, renewing local interest in the project.

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Sasebo is located in the northern part of Nagasaki prefecture. In December 2023, Japan’s national authorities rejected a proposal for a casino resort on land beside the Huis Ten Bosch theme park, citing concerns about the project’s funding plans.

Chamber Revisits Earlier Proposal

Takuya Kaneko, chairman of the Sasebo business chamber, said the group’s position on an IR had not changed. He said the project could help revitalize Sasebo and the northern part of Nagasaki prefecture.

Kaneko also pointed to the knowledge and experience gathered during the previous IR effort. He said these could give the area advantages over other locations and called for a resort suited to Sasebo’s circumstances.

The chamber’s request comes as Japan prepares for another application round. Local governments seeking to host an IR must work with a casino operator and Japanese private-sector businesses before submitting an application to national authorities.

Mayor Considers Wider Location

Miyajima said the knowledge gained from the 2023 non-approval was significant. He said Sasebo should consider the possibility of a renewed initiative while monitoring developments at the national and prefectural levels.

The mayor also said the city should examine locations beyond the Huis Ten Bosch theme park footprint. This would allow the city to consider other areas while taking into account the decisions by Japan’s national government and Nagasaki prefecture.

Neither Sasebo nor Omura can apply directly to national authorities to host a casino resort. That right is reserved for prefectures and ordinance-level authorities, meaning any future proposal would need to proceed through the appropriate government structure.

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2027 Application Window

The next application round for local governments is scheduled to run from May 6, 2027 to November 5, 2027. The process will require the local government to partner with a casino operator and private-sector companies in Japan.

The renewed call from Sasebo’s business community comes shortly after a business group in Omura, another city in Nagasaki prefecture, said it would establish a feasibility study group to examine the IR concept and possible rule changes involving the size of core facilities.

The developments indicate that interest in an integrated resort remains active in Nagasaki prefecture, even after the earlier proposal was not approved.

Japan Has 1 Approved IR

Japan has approved only 1 integrated resort so far. The MGM Osaka resort is under construction and is being developed by MGM Resorts International with local partners.

The project has an investment value of JPY1.51 trillion, or approximately US$9.47 billion at current exchange rates, and is due to open at the end of 2030.

For Sasebo, the next stage involves reviewing the lessons from the rejected proposal, considering possible locations, and determining whether a renewed IR effort can be developed before the 2027 application window. No new Sasebo application has been announced, and the city has not selected a final site.

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Source: GGR Asia