On December 17, 2025, the Japan Tourism Agency announced that bidding for integrated resorts will be open between May and November 2027, as Hard Rock International plans to...
Japan to remove tax on casino winnings for foreigners
Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) published a policy statement that the country aims to introduce a new tax measure, which would exempt non-resident players from paying tax on casino winnings.
The proposal was published on December 19, 2025, and was created in collaboration with LDP’s junior coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party.
Initially, an outline of a tax reform plan for the fiscal year 2021 was announced by the former ruling coalition of Japan’s LDP and Komeito in December 2020. The plan also included a proposal that foreign visitors using Japan’s casinos should not be taxed on winnings.
In December 2025’s statement, the LDP and the Innovation Party stressed that it was important to set down early proposals for tax reforms for 2026 because Japan’s first casino, MGM Osaka, is scheduled to open in 2030, and MGM Resorts aims to hire 12,000 people for the project.
This was the first policy statement regarding casino taxes after the LDP-Innovation Party pact supported Japan’s new policy of allowing integrated resorts (IR) with casinos.
On December 17, 2025, Japan’s government publicly announced that May 6, 2027, will likely be the start date of a new application round for IRs.
MGM Resorts is expected to hire 12,000 employees for the construction of the new MGM Osaka integrated resort, showcasing the scale of one of the largest casino developments...
