Hokkaido Gov. Harumi Takahashi toured the casino and hotels on Singapore's Sentosa Island on Monday to learn how such resort complexes are operated.

Hokkaido is among areas that have shown an interest in hosting a casino if Japan opts to legalize gambling. A bill to legalize casino gambling was submitted to the Diet last December.

Takahashi viewed baccarat tables and was briefed about casino management, including the process of exchanging cash for tokens.

She also met with Jerry See, chief executive of Singapore's Casino Regulatory Authority, whom she asked about controls on casino-related crime and measures to prevent gambling addiction.

See responded by stressing that Singaporeans are required to pay an entrance fee of 100 Singapore dollars, adding that the authority can ban compulsive gamblers from entering if their families request it.

Since opening its first casino in 2010, Singapore has seen overall visitor numbers increase.