Japan’s Upper House has voted into law the Basic Bill on Gambling Addiction Countermeasures, paving the way for final deliberations on the long-awaited IR Implementation Bill to begin in earnest.
The gambling addiction bill, considered to be the last vital step before passage of the IR bill, was passed by a vote of 183-46 on Friday amid support from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito as well as opposition parties the Japan Innovation Party and the Democratic Party for the People.
However, the Upper House added 11 supplementary resolutions to the bill in the process including requirements for more research into the negative impact of problem gambling, an increase in education campaigns to boost the awareness of services for gamblers and various requirements covering both gaming operators and local governments in providing measures to combat problem gambling and its effects.
Friday’s Diet session also saw Japan’s House of Councillors open talks on the IR Implementation Bill, which the LDP is looking to pass before the end of the extended session on 22 July. The IR Implementation Bill is set to approve the construction of three integrated resorts in Japan.