After many years of arguing the pros and cons of legalizing casinos, and despite widespread opposition by the Japanese public, the national parliament on July 20 finally passed the law that legalizes casino resorts in Japan.
Resorts
The law specifically allows casino resorts or Integrated Resorts which will offer many amenities to a wide range of visitors both internal and external in addition to casino gaming.
Such international casino interests as MGM Resorts International and Las Vegas Sands have announced that they expect to spend billions of dollars building the resort complex as envisioned in the new law. Clearly, the idea of the Integrated Resort has taken hold in many countries and in many corporate boardrooms.
An Integrated Resort will have many so-called casino bonuses in addition to the casinos themselves: a high level hotel offering both couple’s and family accommodations; many different restaurants serving a variety of cuisines in formats ranging from fast food to leisurely, luxury dining; pubs, family entertainment centers such as water parks and arcades; a wide range of shopping opportunities for all budgets; an entertainment center for more general shows; a sports complex for the weekend sportsperson all the way up to high level sports action; and a conference center that can accommodate almost any size convention or conference.
Singapore in the Role of Leader
This city state was the first nation to embrace the concept of the Integrated Resort. It was a last chance idea since the Singaporean polity is even more naturally conservative than the Japanese. The people of Singapore didn’t want casinos but accepted the idea of the Integrate Resort because it meant that people could attend events at the resort or simply stay at the hotel for a long family weekend without so much as setting foot in the casino.
The casino might be good for state revenues but Singaporeans wanted it to remain in the background instead of being so much in the foreground as in Las Vegas and Atlantic City and many other places around the world.
Recent Winners
| Casino | Amount | Game | Name | When |
|---|
| SlotoCash | $41,300.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú |  Dawn P. |
2026-01-14 |
| Fair Go | $40,600.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Jeremy C. |
2026-01-16 |
| SlotoCash | $33,000.00 | Panda's Gold | Wayne S. |
2026-01-12 |
| SlotoCash | $30,578.93 | Fortunate Buddha | Iris E. |
2026-01-17 |
| Fair Go | $25,000.00 | Gemstone Keys: The Arcane Unlocked | Harley D. |
2026-01-11 |
| Fair Go | $25,000.00 | Great Golden Lion | Darrellelee R. |
2026-01-23 |
| Fair Go | $24,780.00 | Cash Bandits 2 | HELENE M. |
2026-01-10 |
| Fair Go | $24,709.66 | Fortunate Buddha | Virginia W. |
2026-01-23 |
| Fair Go | $20,520.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Carolyn L. |
2026-01-17 |
| PlayCroco | $19,460.00 | Sweet 16 Blast! XMAS Edition | Anthony M. |
2026-01-14 |
| Fair Go | $19,116.00 | The Nice List | Shari S. |
2026-01-21 |
| Fair Go | $18,923.45 | Fortunate Zeus | Larissa F. |
2026-01-21 |
| Grande Vegas | $18,875.00 | Football Frenzy | Rosalia M. |
2026-01-22 |
| PlayCroco | $17,850.00 | Cash Bandits 3 | Anthony L. |
2026-01-10 |
| SlotoCash | $16,875.00 | Lucha Libre 2 | Marc M. |
2026-01-16 |
| SlotoCash | $15,100.00 | Hot Pots Master | Jordan R. |
2026-01-13 |
| Grande Vegas | $14,970.00 | Super 6 | Eugene C. |
2026-01-21 |
| Fair Go | $14,864.68 | Kev's Bush Bonanza | Alfred W. |
2026-01-18 |
| PlayCroco | $14,636.45 | Big Cat Links | Lisa C. |
2026-01-12 |
| Fair Go | $13,620.00 | Sweet 16 | Matthew P. |
2026-01-20 |
| Fair Go | $13,500.00 | Super 6 | Michelle G. |
2026-01-14 |
| Fair Go | $13,483.06 | Fortunate Buddha | Thi Bich Hang T. |
2026-01-12 |
| Grande Vegas | $12,464.00 | Count Cashtacular | Markus E. |
2026-01-22 |
| SlotoCash | $12,060.00 | Hot Pots Master | Jony B. |
2026-01-15 |
| SlotoCash | $11,600.00 | Buffalo Mania: Thunder Springs | Juan G. |
2026-01-20 |
| Fair Go | $11,306.25 | Snowmania | Aileen S. |
2026-01-21 |
| Fair Go | $11,100.00 | Kev's Bush Bonanza | Natasha A. |
2026-01-16 |
| Fair Go | $11,050.00 | Kev's Bush Bonanza | Sidor S. |
2026-01-15 |
| Fair Go | $10,980.00 | Sweet 16 | Liya D. |
2026-01-10 |
| Fair Go | $10,886.00 | Achilles | Colette P. |
2026-01-13 |
| SlotoCash | $10,626.00 | Fortunate Zeus | Gwendolyn K. |
2026-01-21 |
| Fair Go | $10,335.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Faith V. |
2026-01-14 |
| PlayCroco | $10,260.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Catriona D. |
2026-01-19 |
| Fair Go | $10,240.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Karen G. |
2026-01-16 |
| Fair Go | $10,175.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Dimitra P. |
2026-01-17 |
| SlotoCash | $10,145.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Rajeshr P. |
2026-01-21 |
| Slotastic | $10,120.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | You V. |
2026-01-19 |
| Slotastic | $10,040.00 | Green Light | Cynthia M. |
2026-01-17 |
| Jackpot Capital | $9,177.00 | Sweet 16 Blast! XMAS Edition | Robin Q. |
2026-01-19 |
| Fair Go | $9,072.00 | Bubble Bubble 2 | Vicky N. |
2026-01-13 |
| Fair Go | $9,054.11 | Texan Tycoon | Nicole C. |
2026-01-17 |
| Fair Go | $8,650.91 | Kev's Bush Bonanza | Tabitha P. |
2026-01-12 |
| Fair Go | $8,569.68 | Mighty Drums | Surin B. |
2026-01-13 |
| Fair Go | $8,456.89 | Fortunate Buddha | Ngan N. |
2026-01-14 |
| Fair Go | $8,310.95 | Kev's Bush Bonanza | Brenda B. |
2026-01-24 |
| Fair Go | $8,070.36 | Fortunate Buddha | Scott W. |
2026-01-15 |
| SlotoCash | $8,012.50 | Crystal Waters | Traci G. |
2026-01-20 |
| PlayCroco | $8,000.00 | Spicy Reels Fiesta | Mac W. |
2026-01-20 |
| Fair Go | $7,800.00 | T-Rex Wild Attack | Natalie W. |
2026-01-15 |
| Fair Go | $7,560.00 | Ghost Ship | Aleksandra R. |
2026-01-23 |
| Fair Go | $7,406.48 | Achilles | Joanne S. |
2026-01-14 |
| Fair Go | $7,332.00 | Triple Twister | Kelly M. |
2026-01-23 |
| Jackpot Capital | $7,320.38 | Mighty Drums | Tina L. |
2026-01-16 |
| Fair Go | $7,228.92 | Plentiful Treasure | Danial B. |
2026-01-13 |
| Fair Go | $6,703.62 | Mighty Drums | Tyler H. |
2026-01-20 |
| Fair Go | $6,675.00 | Punky HalloWIN | Katrina S. |
2026-01-18 |
| Fair Go | $6,640.05 | Kev's Bush Bonanza | Leah H. |
2026-01-21 |
| Fair Go | $6,590.00 | Ghost Ship | Renae F. |
2026-01-13 |
| PlayCroco | $6,480.00 | Panda's Gold | Alex F. |
2026-01-13 |
| Fair Go | $6,400.00 | Stardust | Wendy W. |
2026-01-22 |
| PlayCroco | $6,357.51 | Halloween Treasures | Nick N. |
2026-01-23 |
| PlayCroco | $6,316.72 | Cash Bandits 3 | Jskdkd J. |
2026-01-16 |
| Fair Go | $6,300.00 | Kev's Bush Bonanza | Cameron D. |
2026-01-16 |
| Fair Go | $6,265.49 | Oz Golden Trail | Brian H. |
2026-01-13 |
| Fair Go | $6,265.00 | Ghost Ship | Mary J. |
2026-01-21 |
| PlayCroco | $6,262.44 | Plentiful Treasure | Kerri H. |
2026-01-25 |
| PlayCroco | $6,250.00 | Storm Lords | Minkyung K. |
2026-01-17 |
| Fair Go | $6,250.00 | Great Golden Lion | Ahmed I. |
2026-01-24 |
| Fair Go | $6,209.20 | Aztec's Millions | Daniela H. |
2026-01-16 |
| Fair Go | $6,201.32 | Plentiful Treasure | Visit P. |
2026-01-17 |
| Fair Go | $6,168.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Eric M. |
2026-01-18 |
| Fair Go | $6,160.00 | Ghost Ship | Athanasios P. |
2026-01-11 |
| Fair Go | $6,144.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Brett D. |
2026-01-14 |
| Fair Go | $6,129.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Craig B. |
2026-01-24 |
| Fair Go | $6,087.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Stephen V. |
2026-01-15 |
| Fair Go | $6,084.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Rachel P. |
2026-01-24 |
| Fair Go | $6,081.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Creigh V. |
2026-01-21 |
| Grande Vegas | $6,000.00 | Pick Em Poker | Sean M. |
2026-01-15 |
| Slotastic | $5,932.20 | Ritchie Valens™ La Bamba | Susan K. |
2026-01-10 |
| Slotastic | $5,775.00 | 3X WOW WHEELS | Tim K. |
2026-01-21 |
| Grande Vegas | $5,450.25 | Sweet 16 Blast! XMAS Edition | Erin D. |
2026-01-13 |
| Jackpot Capital | $5,344.13 | Cash Bandits 3 | Betty F. |
2026-01-12 |
| Grande Vegas | $5,000.00 | Shogun Princess Quest | Tomi B. |
2026-01-12 |
| Slotastic | $4,657.50 | Cash Chaser | Alisa G. |
2026-01-16 |
| Jackpot Capital | $4,644.00 | Sweet 16 Blast! | Angelo F. |
2026-01-12 |
| Jackpot Capital | $4,508.83 | T Rex | Diann S. |
2026-01-23 |
| Jackpot Capital | $4,160.00 | Hot Pots Master | Nedhal S. |
2026-01-13 |
| Jackpot Capital | $4,077.50 | Cosmic Crusade | Jacqueline K. |
2026-01-12 |
| Grande Vegas | $4,025.00 | Tarot Destiny | Ricky M. |
2026-01-20 |
| Jackpot Capital | $4,000.00 | Aces and Eights | Elizabeth B. |
2026-01-22 |
| Grande Vegas | $4,000.00 | BlackJack | Daniel H. |
2026-01-20 |
| Grande Vegas | $3,981.34 | Pay Dirt | Harry H. |
2026-01-22 |
| Grande Vegas | $3,948.80 | Cash Bandits 3 | John D. |
2026-01-12 |
| Slotastic | $3,745.00 | Shelltastic Wins | Rene Heinz M. |
2026-01-22 |
| Jackpot Capital | $3,654.21 | Coyote Cash | Karen M. |
2026-01-20 |
| Jackpot Capital | $3,240.00 | Sweet 16 | Richard F. |
2026-01-23 |
| Intertops Classic | $3,033.75 | Pay Dirt | Mark R. |
2026-01-17 |
| Jackpot Capital | $3,000.00 | Gemstone Keys: The Arcane Unlocked | Jean D. |
2026-01-16 |
| Slotastic | $2,928.00 | Horseman's Prize | Benjamin B. |
2026-01-13 |
| Intertops Classic | $2,800.00 | Perfect Pairs | Jerry C. |
2026-01-23 |
| Jackpot Capital | $2,760.00 | Buffalo Mania: Thunder Springs | Mirella D. |
2026-01-18 |
| Jackpot Capital | $2,588.00 | Crystal Waters | Shannon W. |
2026-01-24 |
| Jackpot Capital | $2,505.60 | Horseman's Prize | Jennifer H. |
2026-01-21 |
| Jackpot Capital | $2,500.00 | Loose Deuces | Christi S. |
2026-01-23 |
| Intertops Classic | $2,500.00 | Great Golden Lion | Kim K. |
2026-01-19 |
| Slotastic | $2,448.00 | Horseman's Prize | Linda S. |
2026-01-14 |
| Jackpot Capital | $2,404.80 | Horseman's Prize | Linda T. |
2026-01-18 |
| Intertops Classic | $2,400.00 | BlackJack | Jamie L. |
2026-01-13 |
| Slotastic | $2,400.00 | Hot Pots Master | David R. |
2026-01-22 |
| Slotastic | $2,343.75 | Clue Chronicles: Mirror Mansion | Alicia S. |
2026-01-13 |
| Jackpot Capital | $2,000.00 | The Cash is Right | Sandi T. |
2026-01-20 |
| Jackpot Capital | $2,000.00 | BlackJack | Martin C. |
2026-01-19 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,960.00 | Buffalo Mania: Thunder Springs | Sammi W. |
2026-01-21 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,960.00 | Buffalo Mania: Thunder Springs | Diyar Senay S. |
2026-01-19 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,930.00 | Temple Totems | Ert W. |
2026-01-23 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,800.00 | Keno | VICTOR C. |
2026-01-12 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,650.00 | Hot Pots Master | Don N. |
2026-01-11 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,625.00 | Shopping Spree II | Heather F. |
2026-01-21 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,603.20 | Aladdin's Wishes | Jon T. |
2026-01-14 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,580.00 | Sweet 16 Blast! XMAS Edition | Aleksandr C. |
2026-01-10 |
| Intertops Classic | $1,501.80 | Caesar's Empire | Matthew W. |
2026-01-22 |
| Intertops Classic | $1,485.00 | Ritchie Valens™ La Bamba | Kendra C. |
2026-01-23 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,475.00 | Oz Golden Trail | Bibitarte N. |
2026-01-17 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,448.10 | Crystal Waters | Jamie B. |
2026-01-21 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,380.00 | Buffalo Mania: Thunder Springs | Charles W. |
2026-01-13 |
| Intertops Classic | $1,375.00 | Hades' Flames of Fortune | Steve B. |
2026-01-16 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,279.29 | Hillbillies | Kelly C. |
2026-01-16 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,266.30 | Horseman's Prize | Donette H. |
2026-01-23 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,265.00 | Thai Emerald | William S. |
2026-01-10 |
| Intertops Classic | $1,251.50 | Eagle Shadow Fist | Marina K. |
2026-01-22 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,250.00 | Great Golden Lion | Ludvik Fevang F. |
2026-01-12 |
| Intertops Classic | $1,250.00 | Lil Red | Marypat L. |
2026-01-20 |
| Intertops Classic | $1,250.00 | Jacks or Better | John M. |
2026-01-20 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,239.00 | Sweet 16 Blast! XMAS Edition | Alejandro M. |
2026-01-19 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,215.00 | Liberty Wins | Vahe A. |
2026-01-23 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,200.00 | Hot Pots Master | Ben W. |
2026-01-21 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,160.24 | Goldbeard | Roberta M. |
2026-01-23 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,106.25 | Spirit of the Inca | Tina T. |
2026-01-12 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,029.00 | Spicy Reels Fiesta | Maryann K. |
2026-01-22 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,001.25 | The Cash is Right | Dazhia M. |
2026-01-13 |
| Jackpot Capital | $1,000.00 | Desert Raider | Shanika P. |
2026-01-18 |
| Jackpot Capital | $980.00 | Blazing Horse - Huo Ma Zhao Fú | Mercedes K. |
2026-01-14 |
| Jackpot Capital | $964.00 | Shogun Princess Quest | Lana O. |
2026-01-18 |
| Jackpot Capital | $960.00 | The Cash is Right | Randolph K. |
2026-01-16 |
| Jackpot Capital | $960.00 | Sparkling Fortunes | Ela W. |
2026-01-16 |
| Jackpot Capital | $915.00 | 3X WOW WHEELS | Glendon P. |
2026-01-10 |
| Jackpot Capital | $910.00 | 3X WOW WHEELS | Breanna O. |
2026-01-19 |
| Jackpot Capital | $900.00 | Keno | Brandi M. |
2026-01-13 |
| Jackpot Capital | $887.49 | Bubble Bubble 2 | Valerie E. |
2026-01-19 |
| Jackpot Capital | $880.00 | Buffalo Mania: Thunder Springs | Justin B. |
2026-01-22 |
Tourism
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sees the resorts as being major cogs in his long-term plan to boost Japanese tourism. The Japanese economy has been in the doldrums for decades and Prime Minister Abe is looking for ways to get the economy going again.
He might have favored simply opening casinos but the Japanese public has long made itself clear that it considers casinos to be magnets for criminals. The hope is that Integrated Resorts will attract a far different element than would a stand-alone casino.
Tourism Begets Economic Stimulus
Prime Minister Abe and his advisers and many people in and out of Japan see the resort as first stimulating travel to Japan. This would bring many jobs locally to Japanese people whose subsequent spending would further stimulate the local economies.
Tourists who are already in Japan can be encouraged to travel further afield than just at the resort so their presence in Japan would have a salutary effect on the Japanese economy generally. Economic observers say that no single economic sector can rejuvenate a large national economy by itself. But the Integrated Resorts legalized in the new law are a big step forward in getting Japan going again.
Japan sees the large, growing, upwardly mobile Asian countries as prime targets for exotic travel. With well over two billion people between them, India and China represent a huge potential growth cohort for the entire Japanese economy. The idea behind the Integrated Resorts is that first you have to get people to come, and then they will spend money, return for another tourist stay, and possibly invest in the economy itself.
Japan hopes to double the number of tourists who come per year in the upcoming decade. As it is, about 30,000,000 people come to Japan every year. So an increase to sixty million would bring in a lot of new money.
Competition
Japan saw that Singapore and Macau were attracting thousands of people each year from neighboring countries. Many were attracted to the casinos already in place and many more came when the first Integrated Resorts opened. Japan’s legislature, if not the citizen on the streets, saw that only similar attractions could cut into Macau and Singapore’s competitive edge.
Three Resorts
The new law specifically allows for three resorts. The law did not specify where the resorts would be built or who would win the contract to build them. There is still a lot of work to do before the actual locations of the resorts are settled. Japan is a very crowded country and it may be difficult to find locations for three casino resorts among a less than enthusiastic public.
It is also not a given which companies will win the rights to build an Integrated Resort. That is one of the reasons why two large casino interests already announce their willingness and intention to invest billions of dollars on an Integrated Resort in Japan.
An industry observer, Daiwa Institute of Research, estimates that the price tag for the construction of three Integrated Resorts in the expensive Japanese urban sprawl could run a total of fifty billion dollars all told. The institute also said that visitors to the resorts could spend as much as twenty billion dollars per year once the resorts get up and running. It may take close to a decade before even one Integrated Resort opens its doors for business.
Widespread Opposition
Studies show that over 60% of Japanese oppose land based casinos. They fear that casinos will bring both crime and gambling addiction. The law tries to address such concerns.
- Japanese residents will be allowed to go into a casino no more than 10 times in one month.
- Japanese gamers will pay a hefty fee just to enter a casino while tourists will get in free.
- The casinos will be limited to 3% of the total land area of the resort so the casinos will be kept as unobtrusive as possible.
- Casinos will pay a 30% tax on revenues.
Potential for Profits
The last datum indicates how potentially lucrative a casino and an Integrated Resort can be for its owners. Even with a huge tax obligation, big casino and resort companies are vying for the rights to build an Integrated Resort in Japan at a cost of billion of dollars.
NOTE: Please refer to the update on this news report HERE.
