When Will Casino Resorts Be Legalized In Japan?

The struggle to legalize casino resorts began in 2000 with a proposal by former Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara to establish a casino in Odaiba. At the time, despite high public interest, the idea was not widely supported.

One of the opponents’ arguments was that the Japanese, unaccustomed to gambling, would be too prone to addiction.

Nevertheless, many Japanese prefer online casinos, a list of which you can find at: https://onlinecasinowiki.com/

The main initiator of the process was the Liberal Democratic Party, which in polemics with the opposing forces focuses on gambling as a tool to develop the tourist potential of the country.

The acute phase of the debate on the legalization of gambling in Japan began in 2015. Supporters of the idea had an opportunity to loudly declare the need to attract foreign investors to the country, as Japan’s economy had weakened.

At that time, the first official proposals were put forward in parliament that would legalize gambling and pave the way for the construction of land-based gambling facilities.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe openly supports the idea, seeing it as a positive step for the development of Japan’s economy.

According to him, the project could be an opportunity for the country to realize itself as a world tourist center.

The legalization of casinos in Japan will not only attract tourists, but also keep the money of the Japanese, who leave it in offshore gambling establishments, within the country.

As a result, the Japanese government made a historic decision in 2016 by legalizing casino resorts within the country.

Since the country’s casinos went legal, a special working group has been working on the legislation needed to regulate the industry and ensure responsible gaming.

Initially, the relevant laws were expected to be approved by the end of 2017. A number of bills have already been drafted and are awaiting approval, but it has been periodically delayed by the Komeito Party, which opposes gambling.

Conservative Japanese, supported by the party, are of the opinion that the launch of casinos will increase crime rates, create more social problems and spread gambling addiction.

In addition, party spokesman Noritoshi Ishida said at a public debate that he would prefer to use a slower approach to the adoption of legislation regulating the casino market in Japan.

The media and experts took this statement as a warning sign for the entire legalization process and the reason for the slowdown, despite the support of the idea at the government level.

However, for every action there is opposition. Liberal Democrat experts and lawmakers are developing a regulatory scheme that will combat gambling addiction and ensure responsible gaming.

They plan to make entry to casinos a $20 fee for residents and Japanese citizens, and the gambling centers themselves would be restricted to non-residential tourist areas, attracting mostly businessmen and wealthy foreigners.

In late December 2017, central authorities also gave Japanese citizens the right to ban their family members from gambling if they show signs of addiction. This was another step toward implementing the idea of Japanese casino resorts.

Many international gambling companies have made offers to invest in the Japanese casino industry.

Several operators, including Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd, Genting Singapore Plc, MGM Resorts, want a national gaming license.

It will be a long road that may take all of 20 years. I hope that this year, at least, the law will go into effect. It’s difficult to determine the range of specific issues that underlie what a Japanese integrated resort will look like, said Ed Bowers, executive vice president of global development at MGM Resorts.

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