It is legislation that permits the private management of casinos where gambling is conducted. There will be many uncertain elements involved, including an increase in the number of gambling addicts and penetration of antisocial forces. Rough-and-ready establishment of casino operations should be avoided.
The law has been enacted to promote the management of integrated resorts (IR) that feature casinos as core facilities, and include such amenities as conference halls and accommodations.
The law calls for IR management by private operators and makes it mandatory for them to pay contributions to the central and local governments. The opening of an IR is targeted for the early 2020s.
In the case of foreign casinos, it is said that not a few people have accumulated huge debts after being absorbed in games for which vast sums of money are gambled in a short space of time. Different from horse racing and other publicly operated races, casino games involve high-risk gambling.
To prevent addiction, the IR promotion law limits the number of casino visits by Japanese guests to three per week or a total of up to 10 a month, with the admission fee set at 6,000 yen per visit. Restrictions on casino visits will be set for specific individuals if such a request is filed by members of their family. Ensuring the workability of this system is a challenge to be tackled.
A matter of concern is that the law permits casino operators to lend money to their customers. Although the lending is expected to be limited to people who have deposited a certain amount of money, the practice may lead to borrowers being laden with debts. If lending is to be conducted, it will be necessary to make requirements for borrowing stricter.
It is feared that underworld groups and other antisocial organizations will be involved in the management of casinos, where enormous amounts of money change hands, to exploit proceeds for their financial sources. Some people have pointed out that casinos could become hotbeds for the laundering of funds raised by tax evasion and the proceeds of crime.
Consider negative aspects
Eliminating the intervention of antisocial forces and keeping a close eye on casino management will be accompanied by difficulties. Can adequate personnel be secured to prepare for the management of casinos?
A casino supervision commission, which will be established as an external agency of the Cabinet Office, has an array of challenges.
The number of items to be regulated by government and ministry ordinances will amount to as many as 331, including one on the upper limit of the size of casinos. Thorough preparations and meticulous explanations to the general public are called for. Leaving a bill to be paid at some point in the future by trying to hasten the opening of casinos as a top priority must not be allowed to happen.
The government has emphasized that integrated resorts will contribute to attracting foreign tourists and promoting regional economies.
Can casinos lead to enhancing the charms of regions where they will be built? Can the economic effects be expected to meet the huge amount of investment that will be made? These matters need to be scrutinized. It is strongly believed that most of the casino customers will be Japanese.
A matter of concern is the local governments' stance of leaning toward luring casinos to their regions in response to lobbying by casino-related companies. Behind this is that the operation of casinos is to be limited to three locations in the country.
The Osaka prefectural government is trying to realize the establishment of an integrated resort in the prefecture along with a bid to host the 2025 World Exposition.
Local governments should meticulously study whether to lure casinos by squarely facing their negative aspects, too.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 22, 2018)
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