The prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and Natsuo Yamaguchi, the head of its coalition partner, the Komeito, say they share a commitment to pass the Integrated Resorts Implementation Bill in the current session of parliament, extended through July 22. The bill is the second piece of legislation necessary to introduce a legal casino industry in the country.
Another piece of draft legislation, the Basic Bill on Gambling Addiction Countermeasures, went before a committee of the Japanese parliament’s upper chamber, the House of Councillors, according to GGRAsia. Lawmakers have paid close attention to widespread concerns about a possible spike in gambling addiction in the country when casinos open; to that end, they have established multiple safeguards to curb patronage by locals, including an entry fee and limits on the number of times a Japanese player can enter a casino in a given week or month.
The bill will also mandate the establishment of a specialized medical system to treat addicts, reported Asia Gaming Brief.
The House of Representatives passed the IR Implementation Bill on June 19; the bill is now before the upper house. The original legislation approving the concept of integrated resorts in Japan passed in December 2016.
Meanwhile, Hokkaido, widely regarded as one of the most likely prefectures to win an IR bid, may block the plan, which could dash hopes for a multibillion-dollar development in Tomakomai City or Rusutsu Village. The Hokkaido Shimbun reported that there are “variations in the opinions of the assemblymen of the three caucuses that have yet to declare themselves, even if Governor Harumi Takahashi announces an IR invitation plan.” For those reasons, “conditions suggest” that an IR bid “would not receive assembly approval.”
The Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly will face an election next April, which could make some politicians reluctant to go all-in on casinos in the region.
That would be bad news for Jim Allen, CEO of Hard Rock International, who recently told reporters the U.S.-based gaming giant is entirely focused on Tomakomai as a site for its proposed integrated resort.
“We have certainly looked at Osaka, we have looked at Yokohama and some of the other cities,” Allen said, “but the government, both local and regional, seem very excited about having a potential destination resort in Hokkaido.”
Daniel Cheng, senior vice-president of development for the tribal gaming company, said last month that Hard Rock would open a branch office in Tomakomai in August or September.
