US casino operator Hard Rock International has affirmed its commitment to pursuing an IR license in Japan following confirmation that the government would open a new round of applications in 2027.
As reported by IAG, the Japan Tourism Agency published on Wednesday a draft Cabinet order outlining a new application window from 6 May to 5 November 2027 in which it will accept applications from local municipalities to develop integrated resorts (IRs) with casino gaming. Up to two more licenses could be issued under the IR Development Act after Osaka was the only successful applicant during an initial round of applications.
With Hokkaido and Nagasaki seen as likely bidders under a second round, Ado Machida, President of Hard Rock Japan, told Inside Asian Gaming that his company was still eying Japan as an expansion market.
“We at Hard Rock are very pleased that a new round of national licenses is being conducted,” Machida said. “We have remained committed to Japan throughout COVID in order to build a world-class premier destination resort for the Japanese market, with the ever-increasing number of international travelers.”
Hard Rock previously identified Hokkaido as its primary prefecture of interest in Japan and subsequently opened an office in Tomakomai in 2018 in preparation for a bid. It was also the only operator to never officially withdraw from Hokkaido even when it was revealed in 2019 that the prefecture would not pursue an IR license due to environmental concerns.
Since Osaka and the MGM-Orix consortium won Japan’s only license to date in 2021, various government authorities in Hokkaido have revived their interest in IR development as a means of stimulating economic growth and tourism.
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