The industry supports Japan’s attempts

Japan’s intentions of regulating problem gambling is supported by Global Market Advisors LLC (GMA).

Japan.- As legislators in Japan are expected to debate further bills on casino regulation, specially focused on potential problem gambling, the business consultancy firm Global Market Advisors LLC (GMA) has revealed to GGRAsia they support on this kind of regulation. The local newspaper spoke with Andrew Klebanow, senior partner of the firm.

“Our industry has always been proactive in dealing with the problem gambling issue: it has demonstrated this in North America – in Canada and the United States – and the industry will devote resources to it – certainly a lot more than the pachinko industry has contributed to that topic,” stated Klebanow.

Representatives of the lower house of Japan’s Parliament are debating next year a new proposal to address problem gambling, as the casino industry’s development is expected to begin in the upcoming months. Meanwhile, the Parliament’s measure to finally start the casino process is still pending.

The new bill proposes a regulation to prevent problem gambling among Japanese residents, as well as “treatment programmes for problem gamblers, and social support for them afterwards.” However, the two ruling coalition parties in Japan decided to maintain their position to delay the consideration of a gambling addiction bill, called “Basic Bill on Gambling Addiction Countermeasures,” until Japan’s annual budget is passed next year.