Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke in support of the Integrated Resorts Promotion Bill that is currently being discussed by the country’s lawmakers. Japan’s top official argued that if the construction of such integrated resorts is approved, this would create numerous jobs and would bring millions of international tourists.
Here it is important to note that the bill is sponsored by legislators from Mr. Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party. The proposed legislation passed a Lower House vote on Tuesday, December 6, and needs to be voted on in the Upper House as quickly as possible in order to be signed into law before the Diet’s (the Japanese Parliament) extraordinary legislative session ends on December 14.
Prime Minister Abe’s comments came as a response to heavy criticism from the opposing Democratic Party and its leader Renho Murata. Ms. Murata, as other staunch opponents of the bill, argued that casinos as part of the integrated resorts would increase gambling-related crimes, the number of gambling addicts among Japanese citizens and will bring other social ills.
Mr. Abe noted that gambling would represent a very small part of the options that would be available in the resorts and that those would also feature a number of other facilities to attract both Japanese and foreign visitors.
The Premier further noted that it is their intention to bring international tourist numbers to 40 million by the end of the decade. Around 20 million foreign tourists have visited Japan since the beginning of 2016.
It has been understood that the leading Liberal Democratic Party has been trying to bring all parties in the Diet on the same page regarding the casino bill, before it gets voted on. As it seems, this will be a bit difficult, if not impossible.
The Integrated Resorts Promotion Bill was first submitted to the Parliament more than three years ago but has failed to get to a vote so far. Generally speaking, it is the basis for the creation of a multi-phase process for the legalization of casino gambling in Japan and for the construction of integrated resorts in metropolitan areas around the country. If the Promotion Bill is signed into law, legislators will have to vote on a second bill that would present the regulatory framework under which casinos will be operated.
Casino proponents believe that the first integrated resort could open doors in 2023, if both bills are passed in a timely manner.
