• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Wednesday 3 September 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 日本語
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 日本語
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Citizen’s group collects required signatures to call referendum on Osaka IR

Shintaro Kamimura by Shintaro Kamimura
Fri 27 May 2022 at 06:41
Field of Dreams
18
SHARES
449
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

A private citizens group announced on Thursday 26 May that it had collected more than the number of signatures required to call for a referendum challenging Osaka’s IR bid. 

Citizens groups opposing casinos spent two months from 25 March to 25 May gathering signatures for a petition to challenge the bid, which if successful would see an integrated resort developed on Yumeshima Island.

According to the public referendum ordinance, signatures of 2% of the voting population, in this case 146,000, are required to call a referendum, with this petition containing 157,000 signatures.

The group will now submit the signatures to the Election Administration Committee. If the local municipalities find the signatures to be valid, they can demand a referendum from Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura, who would then call a prefectural assembly and submit an ordinance. Any such ordinance is not expected to pass in the Ishin and Komeito party-heavy assembly as both parties are supporters of the IR bid.

A representative of the collective citizens groups said, “There is a disconnect between the opinions of the council and the people and the peoples’ voices are not being heard. If the development plan is approved, the local municipalities and operating company will finally be linked up. This petition will stand in the way of concluding any agreements.”

In January 2021, an anti-IR group submitted a petition for a referendum regarding an IR bid in the city of Yokohama with 190,000 signatures, triple the required number. The proposal was subsequently discussed by the city council which did not approve the referendum, although the city’s IR dreams were ultimately dashed when IR opponent Takeharu Yamanaka won the mayoral election in August.

In January of this year, Wakayama voted on a referendum for its IR bid resulting in the ordinance not passing due to lack of support in the city council. Despite not holding a referendum, the Wakayama IR bid was later thrown out in the prefectural assembly due to lack of transparency in the financing plan.

A special purpose company called Osaka IR, led by MGM Resorts International and ORIX, is slated to develop and operate Osaka’s IR. The area development plan stipulates the IR is to open by autumn or winter of 2029.

RelatedPosts

10 Years Ago: Next Stop Japan

Osaka-based forum to study the potential impact of MGM’s Japan IR on Korea’s casino industry

Wed 27 Aug 2025 at 05:40
Improved Okada Manila performance not enough to push Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp back to profit in 2021

Japan’s Universal falls to US$69 million loss in 1H25 on Okada Manila underperformance

Sun 10 Aug 2025 at 12:56
Konami reveals strong growth for Gaming and Systems segment despite group-wide declines in 1H20

Konami’s Gaming & Systems suffers decline in in June quarter profits on competitive environment, rising tariff costs

Fri 1 Aug 2025 at 05:44
In the crosshairs

Fitch: No clear near-term recovery path for Philippines integrated resort Okada Manila

Wed 30 Jul 2025 at 06:08
Load More
Tags: irJapanMGM ResortsOsakaReferendum
Share7Share1
Shintaro Kamimura

Shintaro Kamimura

Shintaro Kamimura (from Tokyo) has worked for many years as a professional mahjong player, mahjong instructor and a writer. He travels far and wide both in Japan and overseas, fine-tuning his already extensive expertise in many areas of gaming, including Japanese pachinko and slot machines, and overseas casinos.

Current Issue

Editorial – Flipping the script

Editorial – Flipping the script

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:30

This month represents an important milestone for Inside Asian Gaming as we launch IAG EXPO – an expansion of the...

Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the state of Asia-Pacific’s key gaming markets: who’s hot, who’s not and...

Rewriting the rules

Rewriting the rules

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:43

IAG EXPO, taking place at Newport World Resorts from 8 to 10 September, is not your usual trade show. IAG...

Test of character

Test of character

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:28

Since its establishment in 1989, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has developed into the world’s most trusted name when it comes...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR

Related Posts

NUSTAR joins Brigada Eskwela 2025 to Support local kindergarten students

NUSTAR joins Brigada Eskwela 2025 to Support local kindergarten students

by Newsdesk
Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 16:46

As part of its commitment to uplifting communities through meaningful service, NUSTAR Resort & Casino Cebu participated in this year’s Brigada Eskwela 2025 with an outreach activity held on 8 August at Vicenta A. Manreal Elementary School in Pooc, Talisay...

Ng Wai Han named as first ever female director of Macau’s gaming regulator

Staffing ratio of locals within Macau’s gaming industry in focus as DICJ promotes two more department heads from Labour Affairs Bureau

by Pierce Chan
Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 14:26

According to the Official Gazette of the Macao SAR Government, three departmental heads at the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) have recently been replaced. Two of the newly appointed directors previously served for many years at the Labour Affairs...

Deliver premium live casino experiences that boost revenue

Deliver premium live casino experiences that boost revenue

by Newsdesk
Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 11:53

For online casino operators and live studios, understanding the key components of an exceptional player experience is crucial for standing out in a competitive market. By blending immersive streaming environments with interactive social features, you create an engaging and personalized...

IAG announces Studio City’s Blind Tiger at W Hotel as Venue for Macau After Dark 24 on Thursday 29 August 2024

Moody’s: Melco to significantly reduce leverage through end-2026 on solid revenue growth, profitability

by Ben Blaschke
Wed 3 Sep 2025 at 06:29

Macau’s Melco Resorts & Entertainment is expected to reduce its operating leverage, calculated as Adjusted DEBT/EBITDA, from around 6.7x as of 30 June 2025 to around 5.4x in 2026 due to a continued increase in its revenues and profits. The...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 日本語

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 日本語
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • English
  • 日本語