Yokohama Mayoral Candidates Reject Casino Resort Plans

All 7 candidates in Yokohama’s upcoming mayoral election have ruled out seeking an integrated resort, or IR, with a casino in the city. The election in the Japanese port city is set for Oct. 18, with campaigning beginning Sunday.

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Yokohama, which has a population of around 3.7 million, is located about 35 km south of Tokyo. The city had previously been considered a possible location for a Japanese casino resort, but the issue is not being supported by any of the candidates in the current race.

The position of the candidates comes ahead of the next national application window for up to 2 Japanese casino-resort licenses. The application period is expected to run from early May through November 2027. 

IR Issue Returns During Campaign

Former Yokohama mayor Takeharu Yamanaka has sought to place the IR issue at the center of the election campaign. He has pointed to opposition to the proposal as a key political issue in the city.

Yamanaka is standing as an independent candidate. He resigned as mayor last month after allegations that he had mistreated staff, but is running again in the Oct. 18 election.

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, or CDP, has also raised opposition to an integrated resort as part of its election message. According to reports reviewed by GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent, Yamanaka and the CDP indicated that interest in the idea may have returned among some members of the city council and business community.

However, the 7 candidates have not backed plans for Yokohama to seek an IR. Their position means that the casino-resort proposal does not have support among the candidates standing in the mayoral contest.

The renewed attention on the issue comes after Yokohama decided not to participate in the first round of national applications for a casino resort license.

Business Group Rules Out Push

On September 24, Toru Sakakura, vice chairman of the Yokohama Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the organization would not ask mayoral candidates to support work toward developing an IR in the city.

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Sakakura said opposition among Yokohama residents had been clearly confirmed during the 2021 mayoral election. He said the group considered the matter already settled.

The chamber’s position followed reports that some people in the local business community may have renewed interest in the possibility of a casino resort. The organization, however, stated that it would not seek commitments from candidates on the issue.

Yokohama’s IR debate has been shaped by the outcome of the 2021 mayoral election. After Yamanaka was elected mayor in August 2021, he announced that the city would not bid to host a casino resort during the first national application round.

Before the city withdrew from the process, Genting Singapore and Melco Resorts and Entertainment had been identified as potential commercial partners for a Yokohama casino-resort license. Genting Singapore operates Resorts World Sentosa, while Melco Resorts and Entertainment is a global casino operator.

Japan’s Approved IR Project

MGM Osaka remains the only approved integrated resort project in Japan. The project is being developed by MGM Resorts International with local partners, including Orix Corp.

The development has a stated cost of JPY1.51 trillion, currently equivalent to US$9.57 billion. MGM Osaka is expected to open at the end of 2030.

The Yokohama election will take place before the next application period opens in 2027. However, none of the 7 candidates has expressed support for bringing a casino-resort project to the city.

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Source: GGR Asia