Election to affect casino plan in Japan

September 26, 2017

TOKYO- A decision by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to hold a general election next month is likely to have an impact on the country's plan to introduce integrated resorts featuring casinos.

It now seems unlikely that a bill on integrated resorts will be submitted to parliament this year, sources familiar with the situation said.

The government aimed to submit the bill next month. The delay is expected to affect its plans to issue its first approval for casino operations as early as 2020.

In addition, a bill on measures to tackle gambling addiction, submitted to parliament earlier this year, will be scrapped when the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, is dissolved on Thursday for a snap election.

Komeito, the coalition partner of Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is asking for thorough deliberation on the gambling addiction bill before the bill for integrated resorts is introduced.

An official from one of local governments planning to introduce integrated resorts expressed disappointment with the delay, saying that it was considering carrying out necessary measures after examining the bill on integrated resorts.

The basic law to promote integrated resorts in the country, which was enacted in December last year, requires the government to submit a bill to set detailed rules to introduce them within about a year. Jiji Press