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A group of Japanese lawmakers are set to resubmit a bill legalizing casinos when the next Diet session convenes on Jan 26.
The bill was first submitted to the Diet in late 2013, but the government shelved Diet deliberations in November when the lower house was dissolved for the Dec 14 election.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promoted casino resorts as part of his economic growth program, and hopes to see them operating in time for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Gaming companies such as Las Vegas Sands Corp, Caesars Entertainment Corp and MGM Resorts International have been hoping Abe would unlock an "integrated resort" market that brokerage CLSA estimated could generate annual revenue of $40 billion.
The bill faces opposition from some members of Komeito, Abe's junior coalition party, and from some quarters of his own Liberal Democratic Party, who are concerned about the impact of gambling addictions.
Anti-casino lawmakers recently stepped up their campaign, drawing the public's attention to Japan's already high rates of gambling addiction, mostly related to pinball-style pachinko games played throughout the country.
One Japanese casino industry source said there was a chance legislation could be delayed by three or four years, meaning actual casino development may have to wait until around 2024.
Toru Mihara, who teaches at the Osaka University of Commerce and was one of the architects of the casino bill, said failure to pass the bill in this session would be a "total loss of face" for Abe's cabinet. He also said the bill will be difficult to pass this year, as newer topics come up in the Diet.
© Japan Today/Thomson Reuters
11 Comments
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shonanbb
I am not sure if the Pachinko people would allow it.
toshiko
Not Caesrss. Wynn Entertainment,
Wakarimasen
Looks like more graft has been paid and now they think they will get it thru.
Nichikolohe
"said failure to pass the bill in this session would be a “total loss of face” for Abe’s cabinet..."
Who really cares about Abe's "face?" Macao's had their worst year. Las Vegas is diversifying away from casinos. Isn't Abe and his pro-casino "vice-squad" a little bit late for the party?
Kaerimashita
They may be late but there is still a ton of money in legalised gambling so this will pass in time for Olympics.....
bruinfan
"The bill faces opposition from some members of Komeito..."
Are they opposed to pachinko as a form of gambling then? Just curious...
Stuart hayward
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promoted casino resorts as part of his economic growth program. That and promoting the Military Industrial Complex. Both industries profit from the misfortunes of others!
Yoshimi Onishi
"A group of Japanese lawmakers are set to resubmit a bill legalizing casinos when the next Diet session convenes on Jan 26."
Fine. Let those lawmakers build casinos right in the middle of their own constituencies, better even in their own children's/grandchildren's neighborhoods.
bruinfan
No seriously, isn't there a bit of hypocrisy here? Unless someone is implying that the Komeito obviously opposes pachinko too.
CoconutE3
Thought the casino craze was already over. Due to China's crackdown, casinos in Macao & Singapore are loosing money. If Japan still pursues this, they should focus on shows, concerts even state of art movie theater as well as incorporating "gaming" experience. If the venue can offer a "multi-sensory experience" then they might have chance in succeeding by attracting older & youger patrons, local & foreigners, instead of offering just gambling.
Wc626
The last couple decades there has been a trend- people usually going to casino for the clubs, concerts, entertainment, partying, golf, spa etc.
only the wealthy pensioners gamble the big bucks. (Las Vegas)
How could a Japanese casino handle international competition?