The Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Hirofumi Yoshimura, has announced that Osaka prefecture and city will start its formal recruitment process for an IR operator in December. Osaka prefecture and city is aiming to attract an IR facility to Yumeshima island, with the winning operator to be named next spring.
The IR implementation policy for Osaka will be announced this month. In its Request for Concept process held earlier this year, MGM Resorts International with Orix Group, Genting Singapore and Galaxy Entertainment Group all submitted their company information and are believed to be the three contenders to operate an Osaka IR.
Although there were originally seven international casino operators interested in the Japanese City, four of those have now withdrawn with Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment and Wynn Resorts set to focus on other locations and Caesars Entertainment withdrawing from Japan altogether.