Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City have finalized the basic plan for a new Addiction Countermeasures Center, marking another step in the region's preparations for Japan's first integrated resort (IR), which will include a casino.
The proposed facility, scheduled to open in fiscal year 2029, is intended to become a central hub for addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. Officials said the goal is to establish Osaka as a national leader in addiction countermeasures by offering comprehensive support spanning prevention, early intervention and long-term recovery.
The plan was presented during a stakeholder meeting attended by people with lived experience of addiction, academics and representatives from support organizations. While the exact location, staffing levels and building size have yet to be determined, the center will be established in an area with convenient transportation access and staffed by specialists including physicians and public health nurses.
The center will provide four core functions: one-stop consultation and recovery support, public education to reduce stigma and improve awareness, research and analysis of addiction trends and professional training for those working in addiction services.
A key feature of the initiative is its integrated support model, allowing individuals and their families to move seamlessly from initial consultation to medical care and ongoing recovery services. The center will also coordinate with self-help groups and local support organizations to ensure long-term assistance.
The project builds on Japan's broader gambling addiction framework established under the Basic Act on Measures Against Gambling Addiction, which was enacted in 2018 and amended in 2025. Osaka has also implemented its own multi-year gambling addiction plans, with the current third plan covering fiscal years 2026 through 2028.
Alongside the new center, Osaka has expanded a range of responsible gambling initiatives, including a free smartphone support app called Day See, educational campaigns warning that online casino gambling is illegal in Japan, awareness programs targeting young people, and addiction counseling services for individuals and families.
The prefecture has also partnered with Kyoto University to establish a dedicated research program focused on public health and addiction prevention. The initiative aims to develop evidence-based policies and train specialists who will support the new center after it opens.
The center is scheduled to open before Osaka's integrated resort, including a casino, begins operations
