Japan keeps delaying casinos’ legalisation

2020 Summer Olimpics Games could be the excuse for the development of gaming industry.

Japan.- The legislation project that could regularise the casino industry in the Asian country was, once again, left to be treated later. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party carried over the bill until the next Diet session.

The current government is avoiding a clash with Komeito, their coalition partner in the Upper House election planned for next summer. The legalisation proposal was introduced by LDP and two other parties in the ordinary legislative session back in 2015. But the bill has not been debated until now, when in September the LDP decided to prioritise other national issues.

“The problem is whether an accord can be reached between the LDP and Komeito,” commented LDP to the press. According to them, Komeito does not wish an increment of gambling addiction in the country. LDP would have to work for the bill could be treated next autumn in the extraordinary Diet session. If not, it is possible that the project would never see the light after all.

Meanwhile, international casino operators push the government in order to allow establishments in the island. Jiji Press published that the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Sug, affirmed that legalisation could be “expected to be a big boost for tourism and regional economies.”