Risky bet? Japan gambles on opening its first casino

The Japanese government has approved the building of the country’s first casino, despite controversy and concern.

According to the BBC, the gambling resort is planned to open in the Western port city of Osaka in 2029.

Tokyo relaxed national laws regarding casinos in 2018 to approve certain games, such as poker and baccarat, in an attempt to create jobs and boost tourism.

The casino will be built on the artificial island of Yumeshima and will include a hotel, a conference hall, a theater, a shopping mall, and a museum.

The project, proposed years ago, was originally shelved because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida argued that the Osaka casino would promote development and employment in the region.

Kishida was quoted by The Guardian affirming that the gambling resort would turn Osaka into “a tourism base” that would “disseminate the charm of Japan into the world”.

According to the BBC, the proposal for a similar casino has been submitted to the Nagasaki region.

However, there are concerns that these casinos would increase gambling in Japanese society, which is considered a serious national problem.

The Guardian cites a 2021 government survey that states 2.2% of the Japanese population is affected by a gambling addiction.

Another point raised is the fear that organized crime could get involved in the gambling industry.

Image: Miikka Luotio / Unsplash

Most forms of gambling are prohibited by the Japanese Criminal Code, however, there are some exceptions.

Image: Jezael Melgoza / Unsplash

Betting on horses and similar racing sports are allowed in Japan, for example. Lotteries and football pools are also permitted.

However, the most famous form of gambling in Japan is Pachinko, a mechanical game that works as a cross between a pinball and a slot machine.

Pachinko venues exploit a legal loophole, by rewarding balls that can be exchanged for tokens which then are “sold” for money in nearby, ostensibly different locales.

According to Business Insider, Pachinko in Japan produced 30 times more money than all the casinos in Las Vegas combined. Before Covid-19, it produced 200 billion US dollars every year. Imagine what this could mean for casinos.