Japan could have five IRs

The ruling party is willing to approve five projects to install integrated resorts in Japan.

Japan.- Hokkaido Governor Harumi Takahashi has announced that the government plans to approve at least four or five integrated resorts for the Japanese market. The Congress of Japan will soon begin debating the conditions of the IR Implementation Bill, which would finally allow operators to install casino resorts in the country.

Recently the government has been including four prefectural governors in its briefings about the IR Implementation Bill – Hokkaido, Osaka, Wakayama, and Nagasaki – indicating that they are seen as the most interested local parties. The ruling coalition Komeito party however wants to stick to the original proposal.

Integrated resorts may be getting close to becoming a reality in Japan as the submission of the IR Implementation Bill draws near. However, division within the Komeito party might be bad news for the industry’s chances in the Land of the Rising Sun as some politicians may even vote against the bill.

During a televised debate between the policy chiefs of the seven largest parties, Komeito’s own Noritoshi Ishida urged for the focus on gambling anti-addiction measures and suggested that he would prefer a slower approach on enacting the IR Implementation Bill.