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Osaka and Nagasaki, two Japanese communities that claim the right to host an integrated resort (IR) with casinos, have each announced steps they are taking locally to ensure their plans respectively comply with Japan's basic laws on gambling addiction. The decree, which went into effect in October 2018 after being passed by parliament in July of that year, is part of a safety measure required by state authorities as part of Japan's liberalization of casino businesses. 릴게임사이트
The Osaka Prefecture held the first meeting of an organization called the "Gambling Addiction Countermeasures Headquarters" last Wednesday.
Osaka has selected commercial partners, including U.S.-based casino operator MGM Resorts International, for its 1.8 trillion yen ($8.1 billion at current exchange rates).
Osaka's anti-addiction headquarters is led by Hirofumi Yoshimura, the current governor, and has been supported by other officials with relevant knowledge. The organization was established under Osaka's own ordinance to promote gambling addiction measures.
Wednesday's agenda was a draft of the prefecture's "two-phase plan to push ahead with gambling addiction measures," including the 2023 to 2025 financial year. The Osaka casino resort plan could take until 2029 to complete, according to previous statements from stakeholders.
The Osaka Prefecture will finalize its second phase of implementation plan in March 2023 after collecting public opinions. The first phase of implementation plan covering the fiscal year 2020 to 2022 was established by the prefecture in early 2020.
Yoshimura described the IR-linked process of developing gambling addiction measures as an "opportunity" to address a problem that existed even before the casino resort plan, according to information gathered by GGRA's Japan correspondent.
"There are many types of gambling in Japan," Yoshimura said, "and the prefecture is facing gambling addiction problems."
"The IR process is an opportunity. The prefecture will set a target to bring down gambling addiction rates among Osakaans, which existed "when the IR process began,"" he was also quoted as saying.
A national lawmaker in Osaka, who recently heads Japan's Innovation Party, said he believes Osaka's integrated resort (IR) district development plan will be approved by the national government before the end of January.
In addition, Nagasaki Prefecture has discussed plans for a 438.3 billion yen casino resort with commercial partners but has yet to publicly confirm funding.