Japan’s Aichi receives expressions of interest for a casino resort project

The government of Japan’s Aichi prefecture says it has received expressions of interest from private-sector operators for a possible integrated resort (IR) with a casino on Chubu Centrair International Airport Island (pictured), in central Japan. In a Wednesday announcement, the prefectural authorities confirmed that participation documents had been submitted by the September 30 deadline, as part of a request-for-proposal (RFP) process launched in April, according to documents reviewed by GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent. The authorities did not disclose either the identities or the number of interested parties, citing the need to maintain a fair competitive environment. The prefecture said it would conduct competitive dialogue with prospective developers until around the winter of the current Japanese fiscal year, which ends in March 2027. The deadline for submitting detailed project proposals has been set for March 23, 2027, according to the announcement. Aichi is soliciting private-sector involvement for development and operation of a casino resort on land adjacent to Chubu Centrair International Airport, near the city of Nagoya. The suggested development site covers approximately 50 hectares (20.2 acres) of land on the airport island, including land owned by the prefecture. The project is intended to support Aichi’s ambition to develop an international tourism destination centred on meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), while boosting tourism and economic activity. Under the envisaged development framework, the IR would include a casino, accommodation, MICE facilities and other tourism-related amenities. The prefecture is expected to select a preferred private-sector partner in spring 2027, ahead of the next application window for Japanese local governments seeking national approval to host a casino resort. That application period is scheduled to run from May 6 to November 5, 2027. Aichi resumed its pursuit of an IR earlier this year, having previously considered participating in Japan’s first round of casino resort applications. The prefecture abandoned those earlier plans in 2022, citing disruption linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. Japan’s casino liberalisation framework allows for up to three IRs. So far, only one project has received national government approval: MGM Osaka, a JPY1.51-trillion (US$9.57-billion) development scheduled to open in 2030. Industry observers previously told GGRAsia that the relatively tight timetable for the second application round, as well as the substantial investment requirements, could pose challenges for prospective developers and local governments.