Two senior officials have been installed to steer the setting up of Japan’s casino administration committee, the body that will be in charge of casino regulation, safety and probity in that newly-liberalising market.
The appointments were made on July 5 but the news has only just emerged, according to GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent. The officials will report to Japan’s Cabinet Office during the process of setting up the oversight body.
The recruitment of the five most senior permanent officials of the casino administration committee will be subject to approval by Japan’s parliament. The latter body is expected to start what is known as an extraordinary session in the autumn. The ordinary session of parliament ended on June 26 according to the website of the lower chamber, the House of Representatives.
Prior to the appointment of the two steering officials for the establishment of the casino administration committee, representatives from multiple ministries had been appointed to work for the pre-opening office of that committee.
According to information collated by our correspondent, the casino administration committee is to be an independent body separate from the Cabinet Office. Initially the committee will have a supporting staff of approximately 100 people.
As reported by GGRAsia earlier this month, the Japanese government has rejigged the structure of the Japan Tourism Agency in order for the body to be responsible for several matters related to the country’s nascent casino industry.
That will include selection of candidate sites to host casino complexes, facilities known locally as Integrated Resorts or “IRs”.
