Years of delay to plans for Japan¡¯s first casino resort won¡¯t have an adverse effect on the project in the long run, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said, as the facility looked set to open in 2030.

¡°There would have been a lot of synergy if it could have opened at the same time as the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo,¡± Yoshimura said in an interview Monday. ¡°But a time lag of five years won¡¯t have much effect on the project itself.¡±

The Osaka plan for a so-called integrated resort featuring hotels, entertainment and conference centers as well as a casino, gained government approval in April. Japan will compete with Asian neighbors like Singapore, Macau and South Korea for customers as it seeks to further bolster its tourism industry.