A second of a total of eight hearings on the construction of Japan’s first casino resorts was held in Osaka on Friday. The topics discussed included the number of casinos to be built in the country and their locations as well as the potential social ills that could emerge from the legalization of casino gambling in the country.
Members of a specially created government panel will now be traveling around Japan to hold a series of hearings on the matter. Their tour began on Thursday with a Tokyo event. It was only several weeks ago when officials from the panel presented their recommendations on what would be best for Japan’s nascent casino industry and future casino players.
Members of the Japanese Diet are expected to consider the recommendations at an extraordinary session this fall. Following the approval of a first of two casino bills last December, government officials are now tasked with preparing a second legislative piece that will set out the regulatory principles under which the industry will be managed. That second bill is due to be presented and voted on during the Diet’s upcoming extraordinary session.
Many consider Osaka one of the favorites for hosting one of Japan’s future casinos. Here it is also important to note that the opportunity is strongly supported by a number of city officials. Osaka is also one of the candidates for hosting the World Expo 2025, along with Greater Paris, Yekaterinburg (Russia), and Baku (Azerbaijan). The winning bidder is set to be announced next year.
Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui has been heading the effort for his city potentially receiving one of the first casino licenses to be granted by the government. Under a preliminary plan the casino resort could be constructed on the city’s man-built Yumeshima Island. Osaka has also included the island as the host to the World Expo in its bid.
Speakers at the Friday hearing pointed out that the city’s theme as potential host to the large expo has been the creation of a sustainable society for the future. They also said they believe an integrated resort in Osaka could complement the city’s bid and design unique experience not only for Japan, but also for the world as a whole.
Social concerns were also voiced during the hearing, including ones raised by groups helping people with gambling addiction. The government panel proposed that limits on the number of weekly and monthly visits Japanese nationals could make to local casinos be placed. However, according to participants in Friday’s hearing, such limits could bring about other issues.
They pointed out that the government also needs to place limits on the time visitors should be allowed to spend per casino visit to prevent them from staying too long at gambling premises.
The creation of an actively and effectively working agency that would help people with problem gambling behavior was also among the ideas presented by attendees at the Friday hearing in Osaka.
There are six more hearings to take place as part of the panel’s planned tour. These will be completed by the end of the month.
