Regulations outline on casino-featuring resorts

August 1, 2017

TOKYO- The Japanese government released Monday an outline of regulations for so-called integrated resorts, or IRs, that feature casinos, including measures to prevent gambling addiction, with a view to submitting a related bill during an extraordinary session of parliament this autumn. According to the outline, the number of IR visits by Japanese nationals will be restricted. Japanese visitors will be allowed to purchase casino chips with cash only, and automated teller machines will not be allowed in casinos. Foreign visitors will be permitted to use credit cards. IRs will have to include casinos, hotels, international convention and exhibition halls, recreation facilities such as museums, and domestic tour desks. The government assumes that IR visitors will go sightseeing or attend business meetings during daytime hours and enjoy casinos at night. A ceiling will be set on the number of IRs across the country and on their floor space. The land, infrastructure, transport and tourism minister will approve IR districts and oversee IR operators, as well as host prefectures and municipalities that draw up IR development plans. A casino control committee with binding powers will be established under the Cabinet Office to issue casino business licenses, inspect casino operations and impose administrative punishments on any offenders. Japanese nationals will be required to display their "My Number" identification cards for taxation and social security purposes before entering IRs, in order for the number of their visits to be monitored. People aged under 20 will be prohibited from entering IRs. Entrance fees will be collected from all visitors except foreign tourists, with the proceeds used for regional revitalization and other public purposes. Jiji Press