Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promised to, “create clean, Japanese-style integrated resorts” that reduce the risk of gambling addiction during a speech at the inaugural meeting of a new government casino task force.
Aimed at laying out the rules and regulations by which a Japanese casino and integrated resort industry would operate, the task force will see various experts including economists and analysts investigate and debate issues such as taxation, public safety and anti-money laundering measures.
“The world’s highest standards of casino regulations will be introduced, and policies to deal with issues like gambling addiction will be addressed,” Abe said. “This will create clean, Japanese-style integrated resorts.”
The panel will be headed by Abe and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
Although opening up Japan’s casino industry is seen as a legitimate way to boost the country’s economy, there has long been debate over the possible impact of gambling addiction on its citizens.
As reported by The Japan Times, a recent government survey found that 2.7 percent of 993 respondents had admitted to some form of gambling addiction at some point in their life.
The taskforce is planning to put forward its recommendations for Japan’s integrated resorts by the end of the northern summer, after which the Diet will look to bring them into law.
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