Anticipating that he would be returned to authority, it has been reported that Abe may call a special session of the Diet from November 1. That would open up the possibility that the gambling addiction bill and/or the IR Implementation Bill might be submitted this year after all. The legislative schedule does not seem packed with too many other pressing items.
The leaders of the pro-casino
lawmakers group within the Diet, Hiroyuki
Hosoda and Takeshi Iwaya, were returned to office. However, one opposition lawmaker who has been outspoken in support of IRs, Sakihito Ozawa, was defeated in his own race.
The net result of the general election for the gaming industry is that Japan’s parliament will be overwhelming filled with IR advocates, even if the general Japanese population is still skeptical about casino initiatives.
The
legalisation of casinos in Japan may not be as high a priority for Abe, in likelihood being a sub-topic of general economic stimulus. But Japanese media had reported the policy had been included in his election campaign pledges. It is under his watch that this cross-party policy has progressed in parliament, with the first stage of the process –
legalising casino resorts in principle – coming into effect in December.
Source: GMB/ AG Brief / GGR Asia
