Cabinet approves first round of regulatory details

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet on Tuesday approved the proposals for IR regulation that had been outlined by the Headquarters for Promoting Development of Specified Complex Tourist Facilities Areas on February 1.

This includes long-expected regulations such as the 3 percent limit on casino floor space as measured against the total size of the IR, as well as such matters as minimum sizes for hotels and MICE facilities. Passage of the regulations had been widely anticipated.

Other policies now set are that billboard advertisements for IRs will be limited to international airports and port facilities up to the point where the visitors pass immigration, operators are guided to promote regional tourism, and all cash transactions between casinos and customers in excess of JPY1 million (about $9,180) will be required to be reported to the soon-to-be-established Casino Management Board.

Another round of more detailed regulations relating to the bidding process and other matters is expected to be revealed by the Cabinet Office officials in the coming weeks or months.

Latest Intelligence

Latest issue

PATA CEO sees slow recovery, but optimism for future

AGB Podcasts