Integrated Resort Promotion Law (Casino Law) Approved by the Diet of Japan

I. Introduction
On the 15th of December 2016, the bill concerning the Law on Promotion of the Development of Specified Integrated Resort Areas (the ‘IR Promotion Law’) was finally approved in the extraordinary session of the 192nd Diet of Japan. In order to secure its passage into law, the following amendments were made to the bill’s original form:

(i) the Japanese government shall take measures necessary to prevent problem gambling; and
(ii) necessary amendments shall be made within 5 years after the law becomes effective.

In addition, detailed supplemental resolutions regarding the IR Promotion Law were passed in both the House of Representative and the House of Councillors.

In December 2013, an almost identical bill concerning gambling and the operation of casino facilities in Japan was introduced to the Diet by bipartisan pro-casino Diet members. However it was not able to be passed at that time due to the deep-rooted concerns of opposition parties and individual politicians (including some members of the ruling party) over money-laundering or problem gambling issues. Due to the same reasons, deliberation of the current bill was significantly prolonged, delaying passage of the bill until it was finally passed in the Diet on the above-mentioned date.

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