Following the recent developments of Japan’s impending Casino industry, government officials have responded with new legislation promoting responsible gaming practices.
It’s been only three short months since legislation was passed to legalize casino gambling in Japan and country’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has set its sights on establishing a feasible responsible gaming campaign ahead of the market’s opening.
The scope of the bill will extend beyond just casino gaming, covering also pachinko, the nation’s favorite gambling activity, and horse racing. The bill aims to strictly regulate the number of horse racing events, as well as all sales of betting tickets. Pachinko venues may well see ‘curfews’ instated in regard to their hours of operation. Both central and local governments will be bound by the new law to promote responsible gambling whenever possible.
The government and operators are working in partnership to address problem gambling and its effects on the local population. Officials have even turned their attention towards South Korea, which has recently enacted a novel approach to the same problem. South Korea’s Kangwon Land casino is actually paying problem gamblers a daily stipend to stay away from betting venues. So far the program is considered a success and has earned the ear of not just Japan’s operators and politicians, but Singapore’s as well.
The bill’s introduction comes ahead of the vote on where to place Japan’s new casinos. The new integrated resorts will not only house casinos, but retail shops and restaurants as well as entertainment features like theaters and night clubs. The new legislation provides that these venues will also contribute to the promotion of safer gambling habits.
Japan aims to increase its tourism to 40 million annually by 2020, a number it feels is very much attainable given the budding casino industry on the horizon. Given the substantial goals set by the government and operators, a workable framework to keep problem gambling at bay is agreed to be a must between politicians and investors.
Other restrictions proposed by the bill include, admission limits, maximum amounts a player may spend at the casino, and restrictions on the size and scale of a casino project as well as its gaming options. The completed bill is expected to be introduced by the end of March.
