Japan seen limiting weekly casino visits to 3 times

February 15, 2018

Tokyo- Japan is considering allowing its nationals to visit casinos that would be built in the country, up to three times a week or nine to 11 times a month, Jiji Press learned Wednesday.

The government and the Liberal Democratic Party are examining the limits, which would apply also to foreign residents of Japan but not to visitors from abroad, in order to curb gambling addiction, informed sources said.

The government and the ruling LDP also plan to limit the floor area of casinos to 15,000 square meters. Casinos would be core facilities of so-called integrated resorts.

The LDP hopes to decide details of the planned rules and discuss them with its coalition partner, Komeito. The LDP aims to include the rules in the planned legislation on casinos to be submitted to the current parliamentary session ending in June.

Under the planned rules, people living in Japan will be required to show their My Number identification cards under the national numbering system for social security and taxation when entering casinos. This measure would make it easy to check the exact number of visits to casinos by individuals.

The government and the LDP regard integrated resorts as a key item in the country's tourism promotion measures. But some opposition parties reject the introduction of casinos due to concerns about gambling addiction. Jiji Press