Japan bill would include further levies

The Japanese government is adding further control on casino industry legalisation.

Japan.- The government of Japan announced that they are adding a further condition to the Integrated Resorts Implementation Bill that would be discussed next week, as reported by the official Japanese press yesterday. The statement explains that the measure would set at ¥500 million (US$4.7 million) levy if casino operators “are found to have obtained their business licences through fraudulent means.”

The measure would be submitted soon as the Congress would debate further measures to finally implement the casino legalisation bill. However, experts expect the Japanese government will further delay the process. Japanese brokerage Nomura has said that Japan will likely pass its Integrated Resorts Implementation Bill during the second half of this year or the first half of 2019.

Meanwhile, the new levy was proposed after ruling-coalition representatives expressed their concern over casino operations and potential problem gambling consequences among Japanese residents, who allegedly were unsupportive of gaming measures in the country.

The government plans to submit the bill (which Kyodo News obtained a copy of on Thursday) to the Diet on April 27th, as reported by the Japanese Times. “If an operator is found to have obtained the licence through fraudulent means, such as by submitting false business plans, not only will the company will be penalised, but its executives will face sentences of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to ¥5 million, according to the bill,” explains the publication.