TLDR
- Hokkaido received responses from 3 overseas casino operators and 12 domestic firms interested in an integrated resort.
- The responses came after the 6th meeting of Hokkaido’s IR expert panel.
- Tomakomai and Hakodate expressed interest in hosting an IR, though Hakodate’s position remains uncertain.
- 172 of Hokkaido’s 179 municipalities have responded to location questionnaires as of August 17.
- Japan’s second IR application round runs from May 6, 2027, to November 5, 2027.
Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture has received responses from casino operators and domestic firms interested in building an integrated resort in the region. Three overseas operators and twelve Japanese companies replied to questionnaires sent by the prefecture.
The information came out after the sixth meeting of Hokkaido’s IR expert panel. The panel reviewed the prefecture’s plans for a possible casino resort.
Hokkaido did not name any of the operators or companies that responded. This keeps the process private while the prefecture gathers information.
Operators Show Interest In Hokkaido
One of the responding operators said Hokkaido was its most important target area in Japan. The company said it could support a competitive resort in the region.
Other responses pointed to Hokkaido’s natural scenery and cultural attractions as reasons to build there. Transportation links and an untapped market were also listed as strengths.
One operator said the size rules for meeting and convention facilities under Japan’s IR Act were acceptable. The operator did not ask for those rules to change.
As of June, Hokkaido had not decided whether to pursue an integrated resort at all. The new responses give the prefecture more information as it weighs the decision.
Location Review Moves Forward
Hokkaido and the expert panel agreed to begin reviewing possible locations for a resort. The prefecture sent questionnaires to all 179 municipalities within its borders.
As of August 17, 172 municipalities had replied. The results show which cities and towns want to be considered.
Tomakomai, a port city on Hokkaido’s south central coast, said it is interested in hosting an integrated resort. The city has been seen as a leading candidate for some time.
Hakodate’s position is less clear. The city’s mayor said last month that Hakodate is not ready to put itself forward as a candidate for the 2027 application round.
The questionnaire responses do not represent a formal bid. They also do not point to a chosen site for a resort.
Hokkaido still needs to build its position and its resort concept before moving further in the process. National authorities require a prefecture to team up with private companies before submitting a proposal.
During the sixth panel meeting, Hokkaido shared an early draft of its basic stance on an integrated resort. The prefecture plans to share drafts of that stance with the prefectural assembly next month.
In October, Hokkaido expects to finalize its basic stance and what it calls the Hokkaido Style IR Concept. These documents will guide the prefecture as it looks at possible sites.
Japan’s second round for integrated resort applications will run from May 6, 2027, to November 5, 2027. Some industry experts have said that areas outside major metropolitan regions could face challenges meeting the scale of investment required under the law.
For now, Hokkaido has not named the operators or companies that responded to its questionnaires. No final decision has been made on whether the prefecture will submit an application for an integrated resort.
