LDP mulls allowing 4-5 casinos

March 16, 2018

Tokyo- Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering a proposal to allow casinos to be built in at least four or five locations in the country, Jiji Press learned Thursday.

The proposal says consideration needs to be given to the wishes of municipalities preparing to build casinos.

But many members of Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, seek to limit the number to two or three locations.

The LDP's proposal indicates that casino admission fees should be set at higher levels than a government-proposed 2,000 yen, but warns against setting them at considerably higher levels.

The LDP seeks to allow the maximum floor space of a casino to be larger than a government-proposed 15,000 square meters. It says the government-proposed casino tax rate of 30 pct, a levy imposed on operators, is excessively high.

The cabinet is unlikely to adopt a bill to introduce casinos in the country at least until April, said Takeshi Iwaya, chief of the LDP's task force on casinos. Jiji Press