The construction of the integrated resort (IR) MGM Osaka kicked off on Thursday, April 24th, in Osaka, at a location adjacent to the 2025 World Expo venue.
“This would be Japan’s first IR. We’d like to bring economic growth to Osaka and Japan,” Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura stated during the groundbreaking ceremony hosted by the project’s operator, Osaka IR KK, according to Kyodo News.
The construction has commenced despite concerns about noise potentially affecting the World Expo, which runs from April 13th to October 13th, 2025. In July last year, the association managing the expo and business organizations requested postponement of construction work during the international event due to concerns about noise disruption and visual impact on the surroundings.
To address these concerns, the Osaka prefectural government and the resort operator have announced measures to minimize impact by reducing construction activities on days with high visitor numbers. They also plan to delay operations involving heavy machinery until after the expo concludes on October 13th.
After Japan legalized casinos in 2018 to boost tourism and regional economies, the resort complex became the country’s first IR to be granted a gaming license in April 2023.
This landmark development is a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Japanese financial powerhouse Orix Corporation, with each holding approximately 40-42.5 percent of the stake. The remaining shares are distributed among local companies including Panasonic and West Japan Railway.
The total investment is projected at up to JPY1.6 trillion ($10 billion), positioning it among the world’s most expensive integrated resorts. According to planning documents, the facility will feature 2,500 hotel rooms, a shopping mall, a 3,500-seat theater, spa and fitness center, convention facilities, and diverse dining and entertainment options. Japanese law limits the gaming floor to 3 percent of the total indoor space. The project has already secured a $3.4 billion loan as part of its financing.
The MGM Osaka IR is expected to become a major tourism destination, aiming to attract millions of visitors annually and compete with established Asian gaming hubs such as Macau and Singapore.
