Konami Gaming announced that it has become the first manufacturer to apply for licences under Japan’s emerging integrated resort (IR) market. The Las Vegas-based gaming technology company, part of Japan’s Konami Group Corporation, announced it has filed applications with the Japan Casino Regulatory Commission (JCRC), becoming the first manufacturer to enter the licensing process and the first to apply across all available supplier licence categories.
The move comes as Japan continues preparations for the launch of its first casino resort and ahead of a second integrated resort licensing round scheduled for 2027.
Japan casino market moves into next phase
The licence applications represent one of the earliest supplier participation milestones since Japan legalised casino-integrated resorts under its integrated resort framework.
While construction is already underway on the JPY1.51 trillion ($9.34 billion) MGM Osaka integrated resort, Japan’s first approved casino development, the supplier licensing process is a critical component of the country’s wider casino regulatory system.
Casino equipment manufacturers and gaming technology providers must secure regulatory approval before supplying products and systems to licensed casino operators.
Konami said it had submitted applications across all relevant licence categories administered by the JCRC, the national regulator responsible for overseeing casino operations, suppliers and compliance standards.
MGM Osaka drives demand for licensed suppliers
Japan’s casino industry remains in its infancy, with MGM Osaka currently the only approved integrated resort project in the country. The development, being built on Yumeshima Island through a partnership between MGM Resorts International, Orix Corporation, Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City, is scheduled to open in 2030.
Once operational, MGM Osaka is expected to become Japan’s first casino resort and one of the largest integrated resort developments in Asia. As construction progresses, suppliers are increasingly positioning themselves to participate in what many industry observers view as one of the world’s most tightly regulated and potentially lucrative gaming markets.
The Japanese government authorised up to three integrated resort licences under legislation introduced in 2018, leaving two licences still available for future projects.
Japan prepares for second integrated resort licensing round
Interest in Japan’s casino industry has intensified ahead of the country’s second integrated resort application window, which will run from 6 May to 5 November 2027.
Several prefectures are currently evaluating potential bids, including Hokkaido and Aichi, while discussions have also re-emerged in Nagasaki around future integrated resort opportunities.
Hokkaido is expected to finalise its integrated resort policy later this year, while Aichi has already launched a request-for-proposal process to identify a private-sector partner for a potential casino resort near Chubu Centrair International Airport. The outcome of those discussions could determine whether Japan allocates additional casino licences beyond Osaka over the coming decade.
Strict regulation remains central to Japan casino industry
Japan’s casino framework is widely regarded as one of the most heavily regulated in the global gaming sector. The JCRC oversees licensing, compliance, anti-money laundering controls, responsible gambling measures and supplier approvals. Any company seeking to provide casino games, equipment or gaming systems must undergo extensive regulatory scrutiny before entering the market.
Although MGM Osaka remains years away from opening, activity across Japan’s integrated resort sector has accelerated throughout 2026. The national government has reaffirmed its support for integrated resorts as part of its long-term tourism and economic development strategy.
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