Commercial
Integrated Resort
Integrated resort (IR)
Definition
An integrated resort (IR) is a large destination development that combines a casino with hotels, convention and exhibition space, entertainment venues, retail and dining under single ownership, in which gaming is one element of a wider tourism and business offer. Wynn Resorts, for example, describes itself as an operator of integrated resorts featuring luxury hotel rooms, high-end retail, dining and entertainment, meeting and convention facilities, and gaming.
The model grew up in Las Vegas and Macau and was adopted as policy by governments that wanted casino revenue tied to tourism investment. Singapore licensed two IRs, Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands, which opened in 2010. Japan's first IR, in Osaka, had its area development plan certified by the government in April 2023, and Wynn Al Marjan Island in the UAE is expected to open in September 2027. In these regimes the casino licence comes as part of a commitment to build and run the wider resort.
Key takeaways
- An integrated resort combines a casino with hotels, meeting and exhibition space, entertainment, retail and dining as one destination.
- Governments use the IR model to tie a limited number of casino licences to large tourism and infrastructure investment.
- Singapore licensed two IRs in 2010; Japan certified Osaka's IR plan in April 2023; Wynn expects its UAE resort to open in September 2027.
- In 2024 Singapore renewed Resorts World Sentosa's casino licence for two years instead of three after a panel judged its tourism performance unsatisfactory.
Why it matters
Integrated resorts are the most capital-intensive end of gambling, with single projects costing billions, so they are built by a small group of operators and funded through a mix of equity, debt and, in the US, property partners such as gaming REITs. Licences are scarce by design. Governments award them through competitive processes that weigh non-gaming investment, tourism plans and local partners as heavily as gaming expertise, which shapes who can bid and on what terms. Singapore's government has said its decision to develop the two IRs was based on the need to reinvent its tourism industry and on economic spin-offs such as jobs.
The tourism condition has teeth. In 2024 Singapore's regulator renewed Resorts World Sentosa's licence for two years rather than the usual three after an independent panel found its tourism performance for 2021 to 2023 unsatisfactory, with a follow-up evaluation in 2026. An IR licence is therefore a contract with conditions, not a perpetual right to run a land-based casino.
For suppliers, each new IR market is a procurement cycle for machines, table games, casino management systems, surveillance, cashless payments and hospitality technology, and many advertise in the directory. Licensing frameworks are often a form of zoned licensing, confining casinos to designated resort sites.
Integrated Resort vs Land-Based Casino vs Racino
| Integrated Resort | Land-Based Casino |
|---|---|
| An integrated resort is a multi-use destination where gaming is one element alongside hotels, conventions, entertainment and retail, usually licensed to deliver tourism outcomes. | A land-based casino may be a standalone gaming venue with limited non-gaming facilities, licensed mainly to offer gambling to a local or regional market. |
IR licences carry investment and tourism obligations that standalone casino licences generally do not, so their economics and regulatory risk differ even when the gaming floor looks similar.
| Integrated Resort | Racino |
|---|---|
| An integrated resort is built around tourism and conventions, with gaming licensed as part of a large resort investment. | A racino is a racetrack licensed to add machines, often to support the racing industry, typically serving a regional drive-in market. |
Both mix gaming with another attraction, but the policy goal differs: tourism and investment for IRs, sustaining racing for racinos.
The bottom line
An integrated resort is a casino licence wrapped in a tourism contract. The gaming floor helps pay for the hotels, arenas and convention halls, and the government judges the operator on all of them.
Sources
- GRA story - Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore
- Casino Control (Amendment) Bill 2024: second reading wrap-up speech - Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore
- Approval of the IR Area Development Plan in Yumeshima, Osaka - ORIX Corporation
- Wynn Resorts, Limited Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 - US Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR)
Frequently asked questions
What is an integrated resort?
An integrated resort is a large destination combining a casino with hotels, convention and exhibition facilities, entertainment venues, shopping and restaurants, run as one business. Gaming is one element of a wider offer designed to attract tourists and business visitors. Singapore's Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa are well-known examples.
What is the difference between an integrated resort and a casino?
A casino is a gaming venue. An integrated resort is a destination in which a casino is one part, alongside substantial hotel, convention, entertainment and retail facilities. Governments that use the IR model license a limited number of sites and expect non-gaming investment and tourism performance in return, which standalone casino licences usually do not require.
Which countries have integrated resorts?
Singapore has two, Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands, both opened in 2010. Macau and Las Vegas resorts follow the same model. Japan certified an IR plan for Osaka in April 2023, developed by ORIX and MGM Resorts, and Wynn expects Wynn Al Marjan Island in the UAE to open in September 2027. Other countries continue to debate IR legislation.
Why do governments license integrated resorts?
To attract tourism, conventions and large private investment, and to collect gaming tax while confining casinos to a few controlled sites. Singapore's government has said the decision to develop its two IRs was driven by the need to reinvent its tourism industry and by economic spin-offs such as job creation. Licence renewals can depend on meeting those tourism goals.