Bally’s, Already Behind Multibillion-Projects in Chicago, Las Vegas, and New York, Wants to Bet on Japan

Posted on: February 27, 2026, 09:44h. 

Last updated on: February 27, 2026, 09:44h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Bally’s is keeping tabs on Japan
  • If the country reopens bidding, expect a tender from Bally’s
  • Bally’s is heavily leveraged in the US and Australia

Bally’s Corporation has several billion dollars of investment projects in its development pipeline. The Rhode Island-based company, backed by billionaire hedge funder Soo Kim, wants more.

Soo Kim Bally's Japan casino resort
Oakland A’s owner John Fisher, Bally’s owner Soo Kim, and Bally’s VP Arik Knowles attend the Tropicana Las Vegas implosion as it clears the way for A’s ballpark and Bally’s resort destination on Oct. 9, 2024, in Las Vegas. Kim revealed this week that Bally’s remains interested in Japan, should an opportunity arise. Kim’s comments come despite the company being heavily leveraged in the US and Australia. (Image: Getty)

Bally’s remains under construction of a $1.7 billion resort casino in Chicago. Last month, the company warned it might need additional time to open the destination than originally planned for September 2026.

Bally’s is additionally in the early stages of developing its $4 billion casino in New York City at the Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx. That development includes Bally’s paying The Trump Organization $115 million. More details on that can be found here.

In Las Vegas, Bally’s continues to move on a $2 billion casino and MLB ballpark that is designed to bring the Oakland A’s to Southern Nevada.

If that weren’t enough for a single company, Bally’s last year acquired a controlling stake in Australia’s Star Entertainment for A$300 million (US$213 million). Bally’s is betting big on being able to turn around the damaged brand and make the organization profitable.

Japan Remains Under Consideration

In 2022, Bally’s made a late bid for a casino license in Japan’s Fukuoka. The tender came two years after Kim’s Standard General and its subsidiary, Twin River Worldwide Holdings, bought the Bally’s brand from Caesars Entertainment.

The Japan Tourism Agency, a unit of the country’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, never considered the Bally’s bid because it lacked formal local government support. With Japan expected to reopen a second bidding round for the two remaining IR licenses authorized through the 2018 Integrated Resort Development Act, Kim says Bally’s remains interested in the Land of the Rising Sun.

If the opportunity arises, we’ll definitely raise our hand,” Kim said during an interview with Nikkei, the world’s largest financial newspaper that’s based in Tokyo.

Kim added that Bally’s is “keeping a close eye” on Japan, a market that remains “extremely attractive.”

Bally’s operates 19 casinos in the US and one in the UK. The company’s portfolio will expand to 22 once Bally’s Bronx gets up and running in the coming years, and Bally’s purchase of Sam’s Town Shreveport in Louisiana, announced this week, is completed.

Bally’s does not currently have any gaming holdings in Asia. Though Kim was born in Seoul, he was raised in Queens, New York, attending Stuyvesant High School before graduating from Princeton University. 

MGM Osaka

Japan has approved one casino in MGM Osaka. Along with Japanese financial conglomerate Orix, the Bellagio operator is partnered on the ¥1.27 trillion (US$8.13 billion) undertaking on the man-made Yumeshima Island.

MGM Osaka is expected to open in 2030.