Japanese Nippon Ishin Party Introduces Problem Gambling Bill

With the newly legalized gambling industry for Japan continually making progress, concerns over problem gambling are becoming more and more apparent. Most recently, the National Diet, Japan’s bicameral legislature, has seen members especially vocal over such concerns. The group in question has submitted a new piece of legislation addressing these concerns, which focuses on the creation of a framework to counter the issues associated with problem gambling.

The bill will focus on fighting the social ills perceived to arise with the onset of legalized gambling in the country, which is expected to be in full swing by 2023. As the industry currently stands, two land-based casino resorts will be constructed and managed through the combined efforts of international and domestic operators.

Local news outlet The Japan Times reported on the issue and revealed it was the Nippon Ishin no Kai opposition party specifically which submitted the legislation. The Nippon Ishin bill seeks to create a uniform prevention and treatment program for problem gambling. The program will be reevaluated and updated every 5-years to address the current state of the industry and its effects on the public. The bill also requires those regions where casinos will be located to contribute to the financing and support efforts of the program, following suite in updating their own policies alongside the national program every five years.

A gambling awareness week is another provision of the bill, whereby advertising efforts will seek to educate the public of problems associated with gambling. The campaign will take place over the course of one week each summer. It has been explicitly stated the efforts will not oppose casino gambling practices, but rather introduce the concepts to those at risk.

According to local media outlets Nippon Ishin is an “Osaka-centric” political group, one that states it would in fact be happy to host one such integrated-resort within the city. Not only this, but Osaka is also bidding on the 2025 World Expo. Should the city beat out others for an integrated resort nomination, officials have stated a commitment to completing the project by 2023.

Peripheral Support

During last week’s 14th CLSA Japan Forum, four of the world’s largest casino operators, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Hard Rock International, and Melco Crown, all voiced their interest in Japan’s new casino market. Each operator shared their eagerness to enter Japan’s casino market, citing a readiness to commit billions toward investment and construction efforts. CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp Sheldon Adelson himself was reportedly willing to commit $10 billion to enter the market.

A separate bill regarding regulation framework of the new gambling industry is said to be nearing its own vote at the end of 2017. The location of the aforementioned casinos will also be determined by this piece of legislation.