MGM Osaka to feature 6,000 gaming machines, 27-storey arc-shaped tower

Newly disclosed architectural documents have provided further detail on the scale and layout of MGM Osaka, Japan’s first fully authorized casino-centered integrated resort, which is being developed on Yumeshima Island. The project, expected to open around autumn 2030, is being built by a consortium led by MGM Resorts International and Japanese financial services group ORIX and carries an estimated cost of about $10 billion.

The main part of the resort will be a 27-storey tower rising 126 meters, including a basement level. Design plans show the structure in an arc shape similar to MGM’s Bellagio property in Las Vegas. The tower will house two hotels with a combined total of about 1,840 rooms, as well as the resort’s main casino and a theater.

The casino itself is planned to span approximately 23,293 square meters and accommodate around 470 gaming tables and 6,400 electronic gaming machines. According to project details reported by Japanese media The Yomiuri Shimbun, the gaming floor will be accessible to both local residents and international visitors under Japan’s strict regulatory framework for physical casino operations.

Beyond the main tower, the resort will include a large convention and exhibition complex designed to support Osaka’s business tourism ambitions. This four-storey structure will stand about 27 meters high and cover roughly 16.7 hectares, incorporating exhibition halls, multiple meeting rooms, and extensive parking facilities.

Render of MGM Osaka

Once completed, the integrated resort will offer approximately 730,000 square feet of MICE and tourism-related space. Plans also call for a third hotel building, rising 56 meters with 13 above-ground floors and a basement.

This 660-room property will feature studio spaces intended for cultural activities, including tea ceremony experiences, blending traditional Japanese elements with modern hospitality offerings. Across all three hotel brands, the development will provide about 2,500 rooms.

The overall project site covers close to 50 hectares near the former Osaka-Kansai Expo grounds. Construction formally began with a groundbreaking ceremony in April 2024, following land preparation work that started in late 2023. 

The MGM-ORIX consortium is structured with MGM Resorts and ORIX each holding roughly 40% stakes, alongside 22 minority shareholders. To manage local operations, MGM appointed Steve Zanella, a long-time Las Vegas executive, as President and Chief Operating Officer of Japan operations last year.

Osaka’s selection as the first host city leaves room for additional developments. A new application window for integrated resorts is scheduled to open from May 6 to November 5, 2027, allowing other local governments to submit proposals with private partners.

Under Japan’s Integrated Resorts Act, up to three such resorts may ultimately be approved nationwide, with regions such as Hokkaido and Nagasaki widely expected to seek licenses.