Gambling access limits for addicts at family request eyed

December 26, 2017

Tokyo- The Japanese government plans to ask gambling business operators to introduce a system to block gambling addicts from betting on races and playing pinball and slot machines at the request of family members.

The plan was approved at a meeting of officials from relevant government ministries at the prime minister's office on Monday.

The government aims to limit addicts' access to gambling and prevent them from spending all their money on gambling and devastating family finances, sources familiar with the matter said.

The Japan Racing Association, or JRA, will on Thursday start accepting applications from families of gambling addicts and ban online betting by them after screening the applications.

Organizers of bicycle, motorbike and boat racing will follow suit next year, the sources said.

Currently, horse race and "pachinko" pinball and slot machine operators restrict access by addicts who are unable to stop gambling by themselves if they ask the operators to do this.

The government hopes the steps will pave the way for the introduction of so-called integrated resorts featuring casinos, the sources said.