Sources in Japan say Shinzo Abe’s government may insert a plan to scrap the country’s casino ban in the new economic growth strategy to be drawn up in June.
English-language daily The Japan Times, citing unnamed but “informed” individuals, reports that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering the creation of special zones in which privately operated resort complexes featuring hotels, casinos and other attractions would be built to cater to tourists and revitalize regional economies. The strategy is seen as dovetailing with the key planks of “Abenomics,” which include aggressive monetary easing and flexible fiscal spending.
According to the report, the LDP-New Komeito coalition would rely on requests from local authorities for designation of the zones.
The prime minister, who is said to back the plan, told the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives in March that lifting the prohibition on casinos would produce “sufficient benefits”.
The LDP has talked about this for years, and politicians from the LDP, New Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan had set up a group in 2009 to discuss the proposal.
Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, the co-leaders of Nippon Ishin No Kai (Japan Restoration Party), also are pro-casino.
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