• 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
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Japan’s lower house passes bill enabling casinos

Dec 06, 2016 Newsdesk Japan, Latest News, Top of the deck  


Japan’s lower house passes bill enabling casinos

A bill to legalise in principle casino gambling in Japan passed the lower house in the country’s parliament – a body also known as the Diet – today (Tuesday), reports the Wall Street Journal. The bill will now move to the upper house for review.

“The bill passed through the chamber and will be sent to the upper house by today,” a parliamentary spokeswoman said, as quoted by AFP news agency.

Tuesday’s vote followed successful passage of the measure through a lower house committee on Friday, pushed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). But some opposition members walked out of the chamber before Tuesday’s vote to protest the bill, reported AFP.

Japanese brokerage Nomura said in a note on Monday that assuming passage in the lower house of the Diet (pictured), the bill legalising casino gaming could move to the upper house “the following week”.

In the upper house, “the LDP has a 50 percent ‘majority’ and should… be able to count on support from enough Komeito party members to offset LDP members who oppose passage,” said Nomura analysts Harry Curtis, Daniel Adam and Brian Dobson.

“The margin of support appears to be wider in the lower house than it does in the upper house, but the numbers could indicate a positive outcome before year-end,” said the Nomura team.

But it warned: “Like years past though, the legislation is by no means assured since the political process has so many different participants including the minority Democratic opponents, Ishin, and Communist parties.”

Polls show a majority of Japanese oppose casinos and the enabling bill drew opposition from several groups, including other parties in the Diet and the Japan Bar Association. A poll by the Yomiuri newspaper released Sunday found 57 percent of respondents opposed legalising casinos while 34 percent were in favour.

The bill that passed the Diet’s lower house on Tuesday only legalises in principle casino gambling in Japan. Casino legalisation in the country will be a two-statute process. After the enabling bill legalising casino resorts at the conceptual level, a second piece of legislation would detail the specifics, including how they are administered and regulated.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • MGM equity input for Japan IR may reach US$2.5bln: S&P
    MGM equity input for Japan IR may reach...

    Jan 17, 2023  

  • Japan steps up Covid controls on travellers from China
    Japan steps up Covid controls on...

    Jan 05, 2023  

More news
  • Gaming-related crime in Macau down 30pct in 2022: police
    Gaming-related crime in Macau down...

    Feb 01, 2023  

  • Donaco posts US$1.3mln 4Q EBITDA, flags positive outlook
    Donaco posts US$1.3mln 4Q EBITDA, flags...

    Jan 31, 2023  


Latest News

Gaming-related crime in Macau down 30pct in 2022: police

Gaming-related crime in Macau down 30pct in 2022: police

Feb 01, 2023  

Macau recorded 965 “gaming-related” crimes in full-year 2022, down 29.7 percent on the 1,372 identified in the previous year, according to the latest statistics published on Tuesday by...
Read More
Donaco posts US$1.3mln 4Q EBITDA, flags positive outlook

Donaco posts US$1.3mln 4Q EBITDA, flags positive outlook

Jan 31, 2023  

Tak Chun execs knew illicit to settle proxy in Macau: trial

Tak Chun execs knew illicit to settle proxy in Macau: trial

Jan 31, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


US$1.08 billion

Total income for 2022 reported by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp



Most Popular

  • Available Macau casino tables busy at tail of CNY holsAvailable Macau casino tables busy at tail of CNY hols January 27, 2023
  • Almost half million visitors to Macau for 7 days of CNY holsAlmost half million visitors to Macau for 7 days of CNY hols January 30, 2023
  • Macau visitor momentum kept for post CNY weekendMacau visitor momentum kept for post CNY weekend January 30, 2023
  • Macau CNY mass GGR maybe 60pct plus of CNY 2019: JPMMacau CNY mass GGR maybe 60pct plus of CNY 2019: JPM January 31, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us