No progress expected in current session
The Japan Innovation Party or Nippon Ishin is pushing the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to move gambling addiction legislation through the current Diet session, which ends December 9.
According to the Asia Gaming Brief, Japan Innovation Party Secretary-General Nobuyuki Baba personally issued the demand to LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai.
Nikai made no promises. “We cannot reach our objective simply by submitting a bill, but we will step up our efforts a little more, look at the overall situation, and make a judgment,” he said. To Baba replied, “Establishing gambling addiction prevention measures is an urgent task for our nation.”
The Japan Innovation Party is based in Osaka and led by Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui, who wants to see Osaka Yumeshima host Japan’s first integrated resort.
Meanwhile, there is no sign that any progress will be made on IR-related legislation during the Diet session, reported Games Magazine Brasil.
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Keiichi Ishii recently told reporters, “A specific system will be examined in the future by the government and the ruling party, but we will not be on time to submit the legislation.” Ishii is the only government minister from the coalition Komeito Party, whose supporters do not endorse plans to build casinos in Japan.
