Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is very eager to get his casino plans off the ground. As he awaits a ruling on the legislation that would legalise casino gambling in the country, Abe has decided to establish a casino task force. The new task force will have a number of responsibilities in the campaign to legalise casino gambling in Japan.
The main goal is to advise on the development of casinos in the country once the legislation has been approved. In the short term, the task force will drum up interest in the legislation. The establishment of the task force seems to be a positive sign that residents and politicians are getting on board with the idea.
It is likely that the legislation will see a positive outcome, providing casino operators with enough time to open resorts in time for the 2020 Olympic Games. However, some industry experts are doubtful that casino gambling will be a successful venture, according to Forbes. Although Pachinko parlours brought in $36 billion last year, this unique form of gambling has seen its numbers drop in recent years.
From 2002 to 2012, there has been a significant decline the number of Japanese players at Pachinko parlours in the country. Furthermore, there are doubts that these players will be converted to casino gambling. The issue of casino resort gambling is quite complex, as there seems to be equal amounts of support and opposition in Japan.
Australian gaming operators like Crown are eagerly awaiting the verdict, as James Packer is heavily invested in the prospect of opening up a resort casino in the country. Industry experts anticipate that a decision will be made by November. In the meantime, we continue to keep an eye on developments from this situation.
About the Author
