Hokkaido, long considered among the most likely of Japan’s prefectures to pursue an integrated resort license under a second round of bidding set to launch in 2027, has reportedly chosen not to submit an application due to time constraints.
According to local media outlet Hokkaido Shimbun, the prefecture will for the second time forgo an IR bid because “the necessary steps, including the selection of a candidate site and the completion of legally mandated procedures, cannot be finalized by the deadline.”
The prefecture has not, however, shelved its IR interest permanently with the media outlet reporting that a third round of bidding is expected to take place around 2030. As such, it said Hokkaido intends to continue its evaluation of the project, anticipating that an IR could generate positive economic ripple effects throughout the entire prefecture.
The revelation of Hokkaido’s withdrawal comes just months after an expert panel established by the Hokkaido Government to examine the prefecture’s potential pursuit of an integrated resort (IR) license said it would progress to the stage of considering candidate sites.
This follows an announcement by the Japan Tourism Agency last December that it would from May to November 2027 run a second round of applications from local governments for additional development areas for IRs with casino gaming.
The original application round for up to three licenses resulted in just two locations bidding and only one, Osaka, proving successful.
Hokkaido had also expressed strong interest during that original round to develop an IR but the bid was shelved in 2019, with Governor Naomichi Suzuki citing environmental concerns and, ironically, the lack of sufficient time to conduct a full environmental assessment on potential locations.
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