Legislation for so-called integrated resorts is a serious issue as it is aimed at legalizing casinos and putting their operations in the hands of private operators. Matters such as the necessity of casinos should be studied thoroughly, without regarding their establishment as a foregone conclusion.
The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito have agreed on how to regulate casinos that are positioned as the core of integrated resorts.
Concerning the entrance fee for Japanese visitors, which was a focal point, the two parties have agreed to set it at 6,000 yen per visit. The fee has been raised significantly from the level proposed by the government to put more focus on measures against gambling addiction.
It was agreed to limit the number of casino visits to no more than three times a week with a maximum of 10 visits a month.
Games involving high bets are played repeatedly at casinos. With such an entrance fee, it is impossible to expect an effect of keeping gambling addicts out of casinos. It is necessary to recognize that casino gambling is different in character from horse racing and other popular forms of betting.
Casinos around the world tend to cause such side effects as public security worsening and antisocial forces running rampant.
To supervise casino operators, an agreement is said to have been reached on setting up a casino supervisory committee and giving it strong authority. How can the planned panel ensure its workability? It can hardly be said that sufficient discussions have been held on the matter.
In line with the agreement of the ruling parties, the government aims to obtain a Cabinet decision within this month on the bill for implementation of integrated resorts with casinos and pass it into law during the current Diet session. Behind the expedited attempt at legalization of casinos is the government's aim to make the integrated resort construction a pillar of its growth strategy after the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Multifaceted study vital
The ruling coalition's accord calls for the area of a casino to be set at 3 percent or less of the entire integrated resort and makes it mandatory for casino operators to make payments to the central government and other organizations. It would not be easy to keep letting casino businesses run while imposing various constraints on them.
If the opening of casinos is expedited by setting the deadline beforehand and with only a perfunctory study, it could create a breeding ground for future problems.
It is imperative to stop and discuss whether casinos, which in the first place rely on money squandered by gambling addicts, are fitting as resort developments to be promoted by the government as a whole.
Competition by local governments to bid for integrated resorts is likely to intensify. Behind this could be that the number of integrated resort areas has been limited to three.
The Osaka prefectural government is aiming to realize an integrated resort in tandem with making a bid to host the 2025 World Exposition. Wakayama Prefecture and other local governments have also shown a keen interest in integrated resort projects.
The local governments concerned are called on to avoid drawing hasty conclusions and instead look into the advisability of integrated resorts from a multifaceted standpoint.
Addiction to conventional gambling has become a social issue. Measures to deal with this must be taken quickly.
The ruling parties have submitted to the Diet the bill for a basic law sponsored by their lawmakers on medical and other measures to deal with gambling addiction. They should promote negotiations with the opposition camp to pass the bill promptly.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6, 2018)
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