• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Features
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Japan govt wants gaming addiction bill to MPs before Dec 9

Nov 21, 2017 Newsdesk Japan, Latest News, Top of the deck  


Japan govt wants gaming addiction bill to MPs before Dec 9

Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party and its ally Komeito agreed at a meeting on Tuesday to try and submit to the country’s parliament before the end of the current legislative session a bill tackling gambling addiction, GGRAsia has been told.

The present – extraordinary – session of the two-chamber body is due to end on December 9, according to the website of the lower chamber, the House of Representatives.

According to GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent, on Monday this week, Toshihiro Nikai, Secretary-General of the LDP, said that it and Komeito were focused on possibly even passing the anti-addiction measure during the current sitting.

An article in the Mainichi Shimbun news outlet on November 16 suggested that the bill – widely trailed as a necessary precondition for the passage in the nation’s parliament (pictured) of the Integrated Resorts (IR) Implementation Bill – might only be discussed when Japan’s annual budget is passed next year, possibly in late spring.

Casino operator Wynn Resorts Ltd expects an update on outstanding legislation for Japan’s nascent casino industry only in the spring, said Deutsche Bank Securities Inc in a Tuesday note, citing recent meetings with company management in New York City.

“Like others with whom we recently discussed the Japan opportunity, Wynn Resorts expects an update on the gaming bills in the spring of 2018,” said the memo from analysts Carlo Santarelli and Danny Valoy.

Matt Maddox, president of Wynn Resorts, stated during the firm’s third-quarter earnings call in late October, that the company anticipated there would be a “long process” in order to set up a Japanese casino industry even after the passage of necessary legislation, but the political environment seemed encouraging.

Deutsche Bank said in its Tuesday memo: “While Wynn Resorts has been more subdued in its rhetoric around Japan [than others], we believe the market is a priority and we believe Wynn Resorts has been quietly working aggressively to position [itself] for a licence.”

Mr Santarelli and Mr Valoy added: “We expect Wynn Resorts would finance Japan out of a separate restricted group and management expects to partner for the development.”

It had been widely reported in Japan that any foreign companies wishing to bid for a Japan casino licence would need a local partner, but there has been no clarification so far from the government on whether foreigners could be majority rather than minority partners.

James Murren, chairman of MGM Resorts International, another suitor for a Japan permit, said in a September presentation in Tokyo he expected that any consortium his firm might work with to build a gaming resort in that country was likely to be “Japanese-led”.

Deutsche Bank’s Tuesday note hinted at possible reasons why the Japanese government appeared to be strongly focused on passing gambling addiction counter measures before moving to the final stage of legalising a casino industry.

The institution stated: “We believe Japan could be a US$20-billion to US$30-billion market, driven primarily by local play.”

Its analysts added: “Junkets are not expected to have a presence in Japan, thus play from mainland China is expected to be relatively limited and as such, Japan is unlikely to have a material/discernible impact on Macau gross gaming revenue.”


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Deutsche Bank lowers by 32pct its Macau 2Q GGR forecast
    Deutsche Bank lowers by 32pct its Macau...

    Apr 06, 2021  

  • Wynn Resorts ups share offer, to raise at least US$748mln
    Wynn Resorts ups share offer, to raise...

    Feb 09, 2021  

More news
  • Macau subsidised staycation for locals covers casino resorts
    Macau subsidised staycation for locals...

    Apr 14, 2021  

  • Macau 1Q VIP GGR bad at 20pct pre pandemic: JP Morgan
    Macau 1Q VIP GGR bad at 20pct pre...

    Apr 14, 2021  


Latest News

Macau subsidised staycation for locals covers casino resorts

Macau subsidised staycation for locals covers casino resorts

Apr 14, 2021  

Macau residents can, starting from April 15 (Thursday), sign up at any of 161 accredited travel agencies in the city, in order to book a government-subsidised “staycation” at any of more than 70...
Read More
Macau 1Q VIP GGR bad at 20pct pre pandemic: JP Morgan

Macau 1Q VIP GGR bad at 20pct pre pandemic: JP Morgan

Apr 14, 2021  

GEN Malaysia unit taps US$1bln in notes

GEN Malaysia unit taps US$1bln in notes

Apr 14, 2021  

Cambodia’s Phnom Penh curfew extended to April 28

Cambodia’s Phnom Penh curfew extended to April 28

Apr 14, 2021  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”It is the expectation of Blackstone that it will receive probity approval to acquire 100 percent of Crown from each of the state gaming regulators [in Australia] by third-quarter 2021”

Australian casino operator Crown Resorts



Most Popular

  • Three Manila casinos say still shut despite eased lockdownThree Manila casinos say still shut despite eased lockdown April 13, 2021
  • Macau seeks mutual vaccine recognition with Guangdong: CEMacau seeks mutual vaccine recognition with Guangdong: CE April 13, 2021
  • Macau casino 1Q EBITDA softer sequentially: MSMacau casino 1Q EBITDA softer sequentially: MS April 12, 2021
  • Philippines needs AML reform on casino biz: IMFPhilippines needs AML reform on casino biz: IMF April 12, 2021
  • Manila quarantine easing to April 30, casinos shut for nowManila quarantine easing to April 30, casinos shut for now April 12, 2021
Copyright 2014-2021 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us