At the IR Gaming Expo 2019 held at INTEX Osaka over four days last week, a panel discussion was held featuring leading domestic experts on the topic “Japanese IR and What We Must Do for Problem Gambling Countermeasures,” touching on prevention and treatment.
Currently Japan has no casino facilities and therefore no related addiction, but there are some known issues regarding gambling on horse racing and pachinko.
According to a nationwide survey conducted in September 2017 by Kurihama Medical Center, the proportion of the population suffering from a suspected gambling addiction is 0.8% (approximately 700,000 people), and consultations have been increasing as a result of increased awareness.
The idea of individual responsibility is still strong when it comes to addiction, and measures for prevention and treatment in Japan are not well developed.
The symposium included reports on the latest information and overseas initiatives. These were used to discuss what path Japan should take in the future.
Participants included Ichiro Tanioka (Vice President of the NPO Dependence Promotion Association/President of Osaka University of Commerce), Atsushi Namiki (Headquarters for Promoting Development of Specified Complex Tourist Facilities Areas Executive/Executive Deputy Secretariat for Problem Gambling Measures Promotion Division), Kazuaki Sasaki (Professor at Toyo University), Ikuo Hamada (NPO Japan Poker Association President), Toshiya Murai (NPO Dependency Study Promotion Council Director and Professor at Kyoto University Graduate School) and Christine Riley (NCRG Senior Research Director, and others).
We can expect continued cooperative efforts with local governments into the future.
