Despite a tight construction schedule, political problems in Tokyo and local concerns over funding, Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui said the prefecture could have one of Japan's first casino resorts up and running on an island in Osaka Bay nearly two years before it hopes to host the 2025 World Expo at the same site.
With the Cabinet expected to approve legislation Friday on integrated resorts including casinos, and Osaka stepping up international lobbying efforts to win the 2025 World Expo, the governor told reporters Wednesday that Diet debate over political scandals related to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would not unduly delay passage of the bill.
"Discussion of the legislation has been delayed a little bit, but discussion on the contents of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito bill has now wrapped up. So it will be passed in the Diet. Under that assumption, we want to realize a casino resort in fiscal 2023, or by 2024 at the latest," Matsui said.