A Lower House committee on Friday approved a contentious bill paving the way for Japan to legalize casinos for the first time despite persistent public criticism it will exacerbate gambling addictions and breed organized crime.
Friday’s action, backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and conservative opposition party Nippon Ishin no Kai, is the latest in a litany of attempts by the ruling LDP to ram contentious bills through the extraordinary Diet session. Only a modicum of time was spent deliberating ahead of the vote. Debate kicked off on Wednesday.
Members of the opposition Democratic Party walked out of Friday’s vote in protest.
The bill, submitted by a cross-party group of lawmakers, establishes the government’s responsibility to develop so-called Integrated Resorts, which include casinos, to help boost tourism and invigorate regional economies.
The bill is expected to pass the Lower House next week before going to the Upper House. It remains unclear, however, whether the Upper House panel will rubber-stamp it because the committee is chaired by a member of DP.
Japan begins the casino legalization bill
In a report from Kyodo News is said that the Japanese parliament has begun conversations about Bill for The Promotion of Integrated Resort Facilities or as is well known “Casino Bill”, this intention is primarily driven by the Liberal Democratic Party which is the one in the administration. Their hopes are to run this statute before December 14, when their winter recess starts
The “Casino Bill” has been already introduced before in 2013, but this one would establish rules to allow operators to build and run integrated casino resorts, since the current law in this country bans casino gambling.
However, now a days is permitted gambling at slot and pachinko parlors, as well bets on public-run horse, bicycle and powerboat races.
Looking forward to an improvement in their economy by incrementing jobs in this sector and maintain tourist numbers after the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The Liberal Democratic Party member of Japans’s House of Representatives Hiroyuki Hosoda, add to the previous affirmation “We can expect job creation as a direct result of the demand for construction in building the facilities, positive effects on the economy from an increase in both domestic and foreign tourists and a fiscal boost from [taxing] the casinos’ revenue”
