Osaka aims for leadership on gambling addiction policies

Monday 12th of February 2018

The Osaka prefectural and city governments have decided to take a proactive approach to the issue of gambling addiction, wishing to promote themselves as the national leaders on this matter.

Their efforts, of course, are intended to smooth the path toward the establishment of a major urban IR at Yumeshima within the context of a local public opinion still opposed to the plan—largely on concerns about potential negative social effects.

In terms of immediate actions, the Osaka governments will be compiling a booklet on the dangers of gambling addiction to be distributed to all local high schools. They also plan to establish their own research group with a membership including both local bureaucrats as well as private sector experts.

Reflecting the views of Osaka Governor Ichiro Matsui, the gambling anti-addiction research group will not only study overseas policies, but are also eager to integrate newly-developed information technologies. Their ambition is to create an unique “Osaka Model” for combatting gambling addiction which will later be discussed and applied to other regions.

About $60,000 has already been budgeted for these purposes in Osaka’s FY2018 plans.

Bricks & Mortar Gambling addiction