Nagasaki Prefecture has taken its first meaningful step back into Japan’s integrated resort (IR) race after Governor Ken Hirata publicly acknowledged ongoing discussions in Omura City regarding a potential new casino-resort bid. The remarks, made during a session of the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly on June 23, 2026, and reported on June 24, represent the first significant institutional signal since the prefecture’s previous IR project was rejected by the national government in 2023.
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During the assembly session, Hirata confirmed that the prefectural government is closely watching the initiative being developed by local business leaders and municipal officials in Omura. While emphasizing that any proposal must originate from the local community, the governor stated that Nagasaki is prepared to share the expertise accumulated during its previous IR campaign and assist with technical studies and institutional coordination.
Omura City
The initiative centers on the future Omura Bay Green IR Feasibility Study Promotion Council, which is scheduled to be formally established in August 2026. The organization will evaluate the economic, tourism, and urban development feasibility of a large-scale integrated resort in the Omura Bay area. The project has the support of Omura Mayor Hiroshi Sonoda and is expected to deliver its recommendations before the end of 2026.
Omura Bay area
The development is particularly significant because Nagasaki was one of Japan’s leading candidates during the first round of IR licensing. In 2022, the prefecture submitted a proposal backed by Casinos Austria International to develop an integrated resort at Huis Ten Bosch in Sasebo, with an estimated investment of US$3.8 billion. However, in December 2023, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) rejected the project, citing concerns regarding financing structures and overall project viability.
Omura Mayor Hiroshi Sonoda
Since then, the only approved IR project in Japan remains MGM Osaka, developed by MGM Resorts International and Orix Corporation, with a planned investment of approximately JPY 1.51 trillion (US$9.5 billion) and an expected opening in 2030.
Omura’s new strategy seeks to avoid the shortcomings of the previous bid through a more structured planning process ahead of Japan’s next IR application window, which will open on May 6, 2027, and close on November 5, 2027. With two IR licenses still available nationwide, Nagasaki is positioning itself for a renewed challenge built on stronger local support, improved planning, and a clearer vision for attracting large-scale tourism and gaming investment.
