Japan’s Aichi Prefecture is expected to join a second round of bidding to develop an integrated resort (IR) with casino gaming, according to local media reports.
The Mainichi Shimbun revealed Thursday that Aichi has determined to pursue a bid, with Governor Hideaki Omura expected to make an official announcement imminently. This would make Aichi the second prefecture after Hokkaido to all but confirm their pursuit of a license since the Japan Tourism Agency announced late last year intention to accept new applications from local governments from 6 May to 5 November 2027.
Both Aichi and Hokkaido had expressed interest in pursuing a bid prior to the first round although neither submitted a formal application. Only two prefectures – Osaka and Nagasaki – ultimately saw the process through from start to finish and only Osaka proved successful, with the MGM-ORIX consortium breaking ground last year on their US$10 billion MGM Osaka IR.
Under Japan’s IR Implementation Act, up to three licensed can be issued, meaning two licenses are still up for grabs.
Alongside Aichi and Hokkaido, it is widely expected that Nagasaki will try again although Wakayama, which came within months of bidding first time around before pulling out, has indicated it will sit out the next round.
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