Korean casino industry calls for regulatory reform ahead of Osaka IR launch
South Korean casino operators have called for regulatory reform and greater government support, warning that Japan's $9.5bn Osaka integrated resort could divert tourists and investment away from the country when it opens in 2030.
South Korea’s casino industry has warned that Japan’s upcoming Osaka integrated resort could divert tourists and investment away from the country unless regulators move to improve the competitiveness of the domestic market.
Speaking at a Korea Times roundtable in Seoul, representatives from leading casino operators and industry experts highlighted growing concerns over the impact of the $9.5bn Osaka IR, which is scheduled to open in autumn 2030 and is expected to attract around 20 million visitors annually.
Kang Sung-sook, Professor at Tezukayama University in Japan, said the Osaka development had been designed as far more than a casino destination. “The Osaka integrated resort is not merely a facility to attract tourists,” Kang said. “It aims to become an innovation hub for international conferences, exhibitions and corporate activities.”
The Osaka project is being developed by a consortium led by MGM Resorts International and Orix, with the resort expected to attract both domestic and international visitors through a mix of gaming, entertainment, convention and hospitality offerings. South Korean operators warned that the scale of the development presents a significant competitive challenge for the country’s tourism and casino sectors.
“We feel a strong sense of crisis as the Japanese resort will draw a massive number of tourists away from Korea,” said Kim Eom-kwon, Team Leader at Grand Korea Leisure (GKL). Kim added that operators were eager to invest in upgraded facilities and customer experiences but were often constrained by complex administrative procedures. “We hope for a regulatory environment that fosters growth and innovation rather than relying strictly on regulations,” he said.
Similar concerns were raised by Kangwon Land, South Korea’s only casino resort open to local residents. Lee Dae-shin, Head of the company’s casino strategy team, said lengthy approval processes could delay investment decisions for years. “To effectively compete with the upcoming Japanese resort, we need more streamlined administrative procedures,” Lee said.
Industry representatives also called on policymakers to recognise integrated resorts as an important component of South Korea’s broader tourism strategy. Kim Ho-saeng, a leader in the casino strategy division at Kangwon Land, argued that globally competitive integrated resorts should sit alongside K-culture initiatives as a driver of international tourism growth.
Alongside regulatory reform, participants stressed the need to improve public perceptions of casinos by positioning integrated resorts as entertainment and tourism destinations rather than purely gaming venues. Experts pointed to developments such as Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands as examples of how integrated resorts can successfully combine tourism, conventions, entertainment and hospitality to create broader economic benefits.
The discussion concluded with calls for a more proactive government approach to supporting the sector as competition intensifies across Asia ahead of Osaka’s opening in 2030.
