Future Japanese casinos may institute entry fees

In Japan, the government body responsible for formulating the specific terms of the coming Integrated Resort Implementation Bill has reportedly proposed inserting a provision that would require all future casino visitors to pay a daily entry fee of ¥2,000 ($18.58). According to a report from GGRAsia, the stipulation was agreed by the official panel at a special meeting held earlier today but must now be approved by the ruling Liberal Democratic/Komeito coalition government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (pictured) before it can be included in the final Integrated Resort Implementation Bill, which could be put to a vote before the nation’s full 465-seat House of Representatives as soon as next month. GGRAsia reported that the government panel proposed the casino entry fee, which it allegedly stated should be good for a full day of play, as a way to help prevent problem gambling before further stipulating that venues must be forbidden from reimbursing customers that have paid the charge in any way. The provision would further purportedly divide any cash collected from the duty equally between the federal and local host governments and partially used to fund anti-addiction programs. Today’s gathering was reportedly only the second time that the official body tasked with formulating the detailed provisions of the Integrated Resort Implementation Bill had met since the start of the year. The previous summit resulted in a proposal that Japanese citizens and foreign nationals living in the country be limited to only ten casino outings per month. GGRAsia reported that officials moreover proposed instituting a progressive tax system on casinos that would see venues required to pay a 30% duty on their first ¥150 billion ($1.39 billion) of annual gross gaming revenues before increasing this rate by another ten percent on takings up to ¥300 billion ($2.78 billion) with a 50% charge due beyond this threshold. This cash would purportedly likewise be equally split before being utilized to support local good causes such as the prevention of gambling addictions alongside the promotion of the nation’s tourism sector. Finally, GGRAsia reported that the panel proposed inserting a stipulation into the Integrated Resort Implementation Bill that would require all operators applying for a Japanese casino license to shoulder all of the costs associated with carrying out credential examinations such as employee background checks.