Japan’s long-awaited draft Fundamental Policy could be ready as early as November with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism making solid progress, according to the Sankei Shimbun.
The Fundamental Policy is a prerequisite for the implementation of integrated resort facilities across the nation. Public comments on the policy will be held this year with the final version to be formally decided upon by the IR Promotion Office and Casino Administration Committee by the end of year.
It will then be published in February 2019 after a review by the Committee and final decision by the IR Promotion Office.
Once the government has made this announcement, we can expect local administrations who have been sitting on the fence about IR development to reveal their hand.
The IR Implementation Act and IR Promotion Ordinance stipulate that, in addition to a casino, any IR must comprise of an international conference and exhibition hall, a hotel and a tourist information facility and must highlight Japanese culture. It also gives detailed rules on the construction and operation of the IR, including a restriction on casino floor space to 3% of the entire IR facility.
The Fundamental Policy will complement the Implementation Act and Promotion Ordinance. For local governments considering an IR, they must maintain a minimum floor area of 60,000 square meters for an international convention hall that can accommodate 6,000 people from the moment it opens, even if only partially.
The Casino Administration Committee, which set up an office in Tokyo last month, will soon set rules for the types of gambling that can be offered by casinos such as roulette and baccarat, along with investigating the financial structure of operators and ensuring implementation of problem gambling counter-measures.
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