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Japan May Legalize Casino Gambling

Posted on May 12th, 2010

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Japanese law on gambling does not allow casinos. Only a few forms of gambling are permitted in Japan, such as mah-jong, pachinko, the lottery, and wagering on bicycle, motorcycle, motorboat and horse racing. Many Japanese do play online gambling in Japan, an activity the Japanese government disapproves of but cannot do anything much about because the online casinos, which are based outside Japan in countries and places where online gambling is allowed, are not within the legal authority of the Japanese government. Casino gambling could be big business in Japan, as there is a huge demand for it in the country.

At present, it is Macau that enjoys the status as the busiest and the most rapidly developing gambling hub in Asia and the world, with revenues already surpassing those of Las Vegas. But Macau, the only place in China where gambling is legal, and whose best customers come from mainland China, sees some drawback in Beijing’s unreliable travel policies regarding its citizens crossing the border. The Japanese government has been discussing the issue of legalizing casinos in the country for quite some time now, and if it does finally pass legislation allowing land-based casino gambling, observers believe Japan’s casinos will have millions of ready customers not only within the country, but also from outside who would not be having problems with travel permits.

Many Japanese gaming companies have already gotten in touch with Sands China with the prospect of putting up land-based casinos in Japan. Sands China’s CEO Steve Jacobs said Sands is just as enthusiastic and willing to enter into a market that’s believed to have the potential to be Asia’s largest gambling market. He said the company has its sights already set on expanding into Japan. Casino operators like Sands and Wynn have plans of expanding their Asian operations beyond Macau, partly due to Beijing’s restrictive travel rules. Las Vegas Sands recently unveiled its $5.5 billion casino resort in Singapore, one of only two casinos currently allowed by the government.

Jacobs said Japan may take Singapore as a precedent and may soon make a decision. “My own personal view is that their decision to go … or not to go will be made sooner than most people think. I think what they are trying to do is to find an element to drive tourism, so they are looking more to integrated resorts as opposed to a casino resort or a casino only,” Jacobs said. He said if Japan decides to pass legislation on gambling, the first casino could open by 2014-15. Japan’s hesitance to plunge into gambling is partly due to concerns over troubles that come with the activity.