Japan to Just Permit Casino Ads in Immigration Areas at Airports and Harbors

Japanese lawmakers adopt new casino advertising limits amid preparations for the start of selection processes for future casinos’ locations and operators

The Japanese government introduced Tuesday a new set of limitations to the way the nation’s first casinos will be advertised when finally operational, local news outlet the Jiji Press reports.

Under the newly rolled out set of rules, casino ads will only be permitted within the larger integrated resorts the gambling venues will be part of as well as only in immigration areas at the terminals of the country’s airports and harbors. Such areas are typically used by visitors from abroad.

The new rules are part of an enforcement order for the Integrated Resorts Implementation Bill that was passed by the Japanese government last summer. The Implementation Bill was the second of a two-phase process for the legalization and regulation of casino gambling in Japan and bringing Las Vegas-style casinos to the country as part of larger integrated/MICE resorts.

A first bill, the Integrated Resorts Promotional Bill, cleared the government in December 2016, effectively legalizing casino gambling in the country. Its sister piece that was adopted last summer set out the rules and regulations under which casinos will be operated.

Problem Gambling Concerns

The legalization of casino gambling in the country prompted concerns and remarks that the move would catapult problem gambling rates to new heights in a nation that has already been facing difficulties with tackling gambling addiction fueled by the locally popular pachinko machines.

The restrictions related to how casinos will be advertised in future came as part of the government’s effort to prevent gambling addiction and problem gambling growth once the properties become operational.

Other steps taken to protect Japanese people from the negative impact of expanded gambling have included a requirement for the implementation of an entry fee for nationals and permanent residents of the country and a cap on the number of visits they will be allowed to pay to the future casinos.

Japanese residents will thus have to pay JPY6,000 per visit and will be able to gamble at the local casinos no more than three times a week or 10 times a month.

The new casino advertising rules approved today will start taking effect from next Monday. With their adoption, local governments of cities and prefectures that are interested to host one of the three casino resorts that will be built as part of the first wave of the casino market’s liberalization are encouraged to speed up related preparations.

According to the CEO of Las Vegas gaming and hospitality company MGM Resorts International, Jim Murren, the government of Osaka is expected to open the bidding process for interested companies that want to operate an integrated resort in the city in the next three to four months, and to select the winning bidder about this time next year. MGM along with rivals Las Vegas Sands and Melco Resorts & Entertainment have all shown appetite for expanding their businesses namely in Osaka.

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