Japan's plan to open up to casino gambling has been delayed again, three people familiar with the process said, dealing a blow to one of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policy priorities and to hopes the first resort will open in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Pro-casino lawmakers have given up debating a casino legalization bill this month and now aim to start discussions in November, two people directly involved in the process and one person briefed on the deliberations said on Wednesday.
Companies such as Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Caesars Entertainment Corp. are vying to win the first licenses to operate casinos in Japan, a market that brokerage CLSA estimates could generate annual revenue of $40 billion.