Inside Asian Gaming

www.asgam.com EDITORIAL Two steps forward, one step back F or those that have followed the exceedingly long story of Japan’s IR industry from the start, it’s hard not to feel like every two steps forward bring with them at least one step back. The latest roadblock to strike ongoing efforts to make Japan’s first IRs a reality is a bribery scandal that is both farcical and highly concerning at the very same time. In a nutshell, the saga involves an online Chinese company, 500.com, and allegations that it tried to influence six key lower house politicians into approving its involvement in development of a Japanese IR by offering them bribes. For those unfamiliar with the situation, Inside Asian Gaming takes a deeper look at the scandal and its potential implications in this very issue – turn to page 44 to learn more. The allegations, which include monetary bribes totalling around JPY 10million plus various all-expense paid trips and other benefits via a local consulting firm, are certainly serious and have already seen opponents of Japan’s IR plans initiate efforts to halt progress by abolishing the IR Development and IR Promotion Acts that were passed in 2017 and 2018 respectively. While those efforts will likely prove fruitless due to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s house majority, it does serve as a warning shot to all involved in Japan’s IR industry that the finish line is still a long way off yet – and we’re no certainty of getting there at all. It is also considered highly possible that the 500.