Japan to Adopt Anti-Gambling Addiction Basic Plan in April ’19

October 19, 2018

Tokyo- The Japanese government decided at a task force meeting Friday to aim for the adoption in April next year of a basic plan for implementing measures to counter gambling addiction.

The move follows the enactment of legislation to introduce casino-featuring integrated resorts in the country, which has raised concerns over the possible spread of gambling addiction.

"It's important to prevent people from getting into tragic situations caused by addiction, through measures including (casino) visit restrictions, based on reports from addicts themselves and their families," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told the first meeting of the task force for promoting measures against gambling addiction.

Suga heads the panel, established in line with a basic law for preventing gambling addiction.

The law sets May 14-20 every year as a period for promoting educational activities on the problem of gambling addiction.

Suga told the task force meeting that the government wants the basic plan to be drawn up in time for the educational period.

A committee comprising experts, gambling addicts and their families will be tasked with working out the basic plan. Jiji Press