TLDR
- A private sector estimate says a Hokkaido casino resort could create up to $3.5 billion in yearly economic effects.
- The resort could draw between 5.6 million and 8.2 million visitors each year.
- Annual sales are projected between $902 million and $2.6 billion.
- Operations could support 19,000 to 56,000 jobs, while construction could add 93,000 more.
- Hokkaido has not yet decided whether to apply for Japan’s next integrated resort licensing round.
A possible casino resort in Hokkaido, Japan, could generate as much as JPY550 billion, or $3.5 billion, in economic effects each year once it opens. The figure comes from a private sector estimate made in June.
The estimate was first reported by the local news outlet Yomiuri Shimbun. The name of the company behind the numbers was not given.
According to the estimate, the yearly economic impact of an integrated resort in Hokkaido could range from JPY190 billion to JPY550 billion. That works out to between $1.2 billion and $3.5 billion.
It is important to note these are not official numbers. They were not part of a government approved development plan, and Hokkaido has not decided whether it will pursue an integrated resort project at all.
Visitor and Sales Projections
The estimate assumes the resort could attract between 5.6 million and 8.2 million visitors per year. That range depends on how the project is built and marketed.
Based on those visitor numbers, annual sales were projected between JPY140 billion and JPY410 billion. In dollars, that is roughly $902 million to $2.6 billion.
No site, developer, timeline, or investment amount has been chosen yet. The study only looked at potential visitor traffic and sales to estimate the scale of activity such a resort might see.
Integrated resorts in Japan typically combine casino floors with hotels and entertainment venues. The report focused only on the possible economic and employment effects of building one in Hokkaido.
Job Creation Potential
The analysis found that a Hokkaido resort could create between 19,000 and 56,000 jobs each year once it starts operating. That range depends on the final size and scope of the project.
The construction phase alone could also drive a large amount of economic activity. Investment during construction was estimated to generate JPY1.54 trillion, or $9.9 billion, in economic impact.
Construction is expected to create around 93,000 jobs. This would happen before the resort ever opens to the public.
These numbers suggest the project could support jobs in two separate phases. First during building, then again once the resort is running.
Hokkaido has still not confirmed if it will take part in Japan’s next integrated resort application round. That national application window is set to run from May 6 to November 5, 2027.
If the prefecture chooses to move forward, it would need to submit a development proposal that meets Japan’s national requirements. No such proposal exists yet.
Earlier this month, eight local business groups asked Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki to push the integrated resort process forward. They called on the prefecture to begin preparing for an application.
Hokkaido’s prefectural government has already submitted a draft of its revised integrated resort policy to the local assembly. This step does not mean an application has been decided.
Hokkaido withdrew from Japan’s first round of integrated resort applications in 2019. At the time, officials cited environmental concerns and a lack of time to properly review sites.
So far, Japan has approved only one integrated resort project nationwide. MGM Osaka is scheduled to open in 2030.
