日本首個正式獲准興建的賭場型綜合度假村「大阪MGM度假村」（MGM Osaka），被視為日本觀光與娛樂產業的重要里程碑。這個備受關注的超大型項目目前整體建設進度符合原定時程，並已於2025年4月正式啟動主體工程，目標在2030年秋季對外開幕營運。

大阪MGM度假村坐落於大阪市的人工島「夢洲」（Yumeshima），該地點緊鄰2025年大阪・關西世界博覽會的舊會場。世博結束後，夢洲被定位為大阪未來城市發展與國際觀光的核心區域，而MGM度假村正是其中最具代表性的旗艦項目。大阪府與大阪市希望藉由這個度假村，將夢洲從短期活動場地轉型為長期、可持續的國際觀光據點。

本項目由美國博彩與度假產業龍頭美高梅國際酒店集團（MGM Resorts International）的日本法人，攜手日本大型金融與不動產企業歐力士（Orix Corp）共同主導開發。這種「外資專業經驗＋日本本土企業資本與行政協調能力」的合作模式，被日本政府視為推動整合型度假村（IR）政策的示範案例。

大阪MGM度假村的總投資金額高達約1.51兆日圓，折合約96.3億美元，是日本歷來規模最大的觀光開發案之一。整個園區不僅包含賭場設施，還將結合高級酒店、國際級會議與展覽中心（MICE）、大型購物與餐飲空間、劇場與娛樂設施，以及面向國際市場的休閒與度假服務。官方強調，賭場僅是整體的一部分，核心目標是打造一個全年無休、能吸引不同族群與國籍旅客的複合型觀光城市。

在經濟效益方面，大阪府與營運團隊預估，度假村全面運作後，每年可吸引約 2,000萬名國內外旅客，不僅將大幅提升關西地區的國際能見度，也有望帶動就業機會、觀光消費與周邊產業發展。對大阪而言，這個項目被寄予厚望，希望能成為繼東京之後，日本另一個具備全球競爭力的觀光與會展中心。

不過，該計畫自提出以來也伴隨不少爭議。部分市民與社會團體對賭博成癮、治安與社會成本表示擔憂。對此，日本政府與大阪市承諾將實施嚴格的入場限制、成癮對策與監管制度，例如對日本居民收取入場費、限制入場次數，並設立專責的成癮防治機構，以降低賭博對社會的負面影響。

整體來看，大阪 MGM 度假村不僅是一個單純的賭場項目，而是日本在觀光政策、外資引進與城市再開發上的一次重大實驗。若能如期在2030年秋季順利開幕並成功營運，它很可能成為亞洲最具代表性的綜合度假村之一，同時也將深刻影響日本未來對整合型度假村政策的走向與評價。

Japan’s first officially approved casino-integrated resort, MGM Osaka, is widely regarded as a major milestone for the country’s tourism and entertainment industries. This highly anticipated mega project is currently progressing on schedule, with full-scale construction having officially commenced in April 2025. The resort is slated to open to the public in autumn 2030.

MGM Osaka is being developed on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay located adjacent to the former site of the 2025 Osaka–Kansai World Expo. Following the conclusion of the Expo, Yumeshima has been designated as a key hub for Osaka’s future urban development and international tourism strategy. The MGM resort is positioned as the flagship project intended to transform the island from a temporary event venue into a long-term, sustainable global tourist destination.

The project is jointly led by the Japanese subsidiary of MGM Resorts International, a major U.S.-based gaming and hospitality conglomerate, in partnership with Orix Corporation, a prominent Japanese financial and real estate group. This collaboration—combining MGM’s global expertise in integrated resort operations with Orix’s domestic capital strength and administrative coordination—is seen by the Japanese government as a model case for advancing its Integrated Resort (IR) policy.

With a total investment of approximately ¥1.51 trillion (about USD 9.63 billion), MGM Osaka represents one of the largest tourism development projects in Japan’s history. The resort will go far beyond a standalone casino, featuring luxury hotels, a world-class convention and exhibition center (MICE facilities), extensive shopping and dining areas, theaters and entertainment venues, and a wide range of leisure and resort amenities designed for international visitors. Authorities have emphasized that the casino component will constitute only part of the overall complex, with the primary objective being the creation of a year-round, multi-purpose tourism city capable of attracting diverse demographics from around the world.

In terms of economic impact, Osaka Prefecture and the project operators estimate that once fully operational, the resort could attract around 20 million visitors annually. This is expected to significantly enhance the Kansai region’s international profile while generating substantial employment opportunities, tourism revenue, and spillover benefits for related industries. For Osaka, the project is viewed as a cornerstone initiative aimed at establishing the city as Japan’s second globally competitive tourism and convention hub after Tokyo.

That said, the project has not been without controversy. Since its proposal, concerns have been raised by local residents and civic groups regarding gambling addiction, public safety, and broader social costs. In response, both the Japanese government and Osaka City have pledged to implement strict regulatory measures, including entry fees and visit limits for Japanese residents, as well as comprehensive gambling addiction prevention and treatment programs overseen by dedicated authorities.

Overall, MGM Osaka is not merely a casino development, but a large-scale experiment in Japan’s tourism policy, foreign investment strategy, and urban redevelopment approach. If it opens successfully as planned in autumn 2030 and achieves stable operations, it is likely to become one of Asia’s most prominent integrated resorts and could have a lasting influence on how Japan evaluates and shapes its Integrated Resort policies in the future.