Hakodate rules out bidding to host Hokkaido casino resort

Tomakomai will be Hokkaido contender for an IR licence.

Japan.- Hakodate, a key tourism city on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, appears to be ruled out as a candidate to host an integrated resort (IR) with a casino. Mayor Jun Oizumi said the city is “in no position” to pursue such a project. The announcement, made during a city assembly session, leaves Tomakomai as Hokkaido’s most likely candidate for any future IR licence.

Oizumi said that while Hakodate’s tourism-driven economy makes an IR conceptually appealing, the city lacks concrete plans or resources to proceed. Earlier in September, Hakodate had shown tentative interest in a Hokkaido prefectural survey, but the mayor said there is concrete proposal.

Tomakomai, an industrial port city, is a more solid contender for an anticipated second round of IR licence applications in Japan. Mayor Suguru Kanazawa has reiterated the city’s ambitions to participate, emphasising collaboration with neighbouring municipalities. Tomakomai was originally a contender among three Hokkaido sites for the original IR application round in 2019 before the prefecture backed out.

Japan has approved only one IR project to date: MGM Osaka, a US$10.31bn development led by MGM Resorts International and Orix Corporation, slated for a 2030 opening.

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See also: Hakodate also interested in hosting casino on Hokkaido

Tomakomai will be Hokkaido contender for an IR licence. Japan.- Hakodate, a key tourism city on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, appears to be ruled out as a candidate to…