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Japan on Friday approved a plan to build the country’s first casino in the western city of Osaka, paving the way for a large resort aimed at attracting domestic and international tourist spending.
Put forth by the city and Osaka prefecture, the project aims to open a casino, conference center and other facilities in 2029 with 1.8 trillion yen ($13.5 billion) of initial investment.
Casinos were previously illegal in Japan along with other private gambling, but a 2018 integrated resort (IR) law provided exception to casino games such as poker or baccarat at officially approved establishments as part of an effort to attract tourists.
Japan is seen as a prized market for casino operators because of its affluent population of 126 million and proximity to Asia’s wealthy gamblers, although opinion polls have shown many citizens worry about addiction and crime.
