Japan citizens discuss casino law

Japan authorities have heard the opinion of Japanese residents regarding a gaming legislation.

Japan.- The public hearings in Japan to define the future of the casino industry have led to divided opinions. Japanese residents presented their arguments to national authorities last week showing big concern about anti-problem gambling legislation. Next public hearings will be held in Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sendai, Sapporo, Nagoya, Toyama and Takamatsu until August 29.

“They would become a nucleus of tourism and give rise to new basic industries,” explained a group that supports the casino legalisation during the public hearing for the Kinki region in Osaka. However, both the opponents and the supporters of the bill expressed the importance of regulating problem gambling.

Osaka is one of the potential hosts to open an integrated resort, which includes a casino, by 2023. Gaming industry could not land in the country until the government approves final draft of the Integrated Resorts (IR) Implementation Bill. The current administration promised residents to set “the world’s strictest regulations on casinos,” even though international companies said the market would lose profitability.

“The panel has proposed limiting the number of times Japanese people can enter the casinos on a given day or during any given week. But that could simply encourage people to spend longer periods of time in the casino. A limit should also be placed on how long people are allowed to stay in the casino on any given visit,” commented one opponent about Japan Office of Integrated Resort Regime Promotion’s proposal.

The government could add further limitations after the public hearings’ results, which show that residents have not entirely agreed yet to allow the development of an international casino development.