Japan holds anti-casino hearings

Japan authorities will set nine public hearings in August to discuss the gaming bill with casino opponents.

Japan.- Anti-casino groups in Japan will present their arguments during nine public hearings this month. Legislators have set several dates within August 17-29 to meet advocate groups concerned over casino legalisation. Meanwhile, the government is planning to finally approve a comprehensive legislation on the issue.

“The legally-required ‘national debate’ has not taken place, and so it is unacceptable to prematurely allow this legislation to advance. Our chance to turn it back is now or never,” stated yesterday a Shikoku island’s journalist group and newspaper opponent to casinos, The Ehime Shimbun.

Whilst legislatos would soon pass the IR Implementation Bill to begin the development of legal casino industry, the national opposition decided to present their arguments to the government. This week three lawmakers of the Japan Communist Party urged the Cabinet Office to hold “transparent” hearings. The sessions will be focused on legal strategies to prevent problem gambling and money laundering through casino operations.

In response, the administration revealed that Tokyo’s first public would be live broadcasted over the internet for its entire two-hour duration, according to AGBrief. The public hearings will be carried out in Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sendai, Sapporo, Nagoya, Toyama and Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture.