A so-called “basic plan” to tackle the public policy issue of gambling addiction in Japan is to be formulated and made subject to a resolution in cabinet by April next year, according to information gathered by GGRAsia.
The news emerged after a first meeting on Friday of the body coordinating the public policy effort on gambling addiction, a major topic of community and political concern in relation to Japan’s casino liberalisation process. Having clear harm prevention and mitigation measures in relation to casino gambling is considered in Japan a key precondition of having a casino industry.
Up to three casino resorts are to be permitted in the first phase of market opening up, but the timetable for when that will happen is not yet clear.
A body known as the “headquarters for gambling addiction countermeasure promotion” is the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretariat, under the Chief Cabinet Secretary. The incumbent is Yoshihide Suga, a key figure in the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The official will be assisted in his work on the gambling addiction countermeasures by ministers of state in government departments that also have an interest in the topic.
The headquarters was set up under the terms of the Basic Act on Gambling Addiction Countermeasures, which came into force on October 5.
For its future deliberations, the headquarters for gambling addiction countermeasure promotion will put in place an executive committee, including people at director general-level in relevant ministries. The entity will be assisted by a panel of people referred to as experts in the field, according to GGRAsia’s correspondent in Japan.
