Japan Committee passes IR bill

The Integrated Resorts (IR) Implementation Bill was approved by the Upper House Committee.

Japan.- The Committee on Cabinet in the House of Councillors, Japanese Congress’ upper chamber, passed yesterday afternoon the Integrated Resorts (IR) Implementation Bill. Now legislators are expecting to finally approve the bill at a full Upper House session today.

The parliamentary session is set to close on Sunday, so July 20th could be a key day for the casino industry in the Asian country. However, major opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, are ready to introduce no-confidence motion against the cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in order to stop the bill from taking official effect.

One of the main hurdles for the bill to be approved was the potential negative effect gambling may have on the population. However, lawmakers have passed the Basic Bill on Gambling Addiction Countermeasures, which tackles problem gambling and makes the IR Implementation Bill one step closer, less than two weeks from the extended session’s end.

According to the approved bill, the central government would be required to prepare the basic outline for gambling addiction measures, while local governments prepare the execution plan for said measures. The Law not only covers casino gambling but includes pachinko and other segments.