LAS VEGAS -- The Japanese have been kicking around the idea of building American-style casinos in Japan for four years now. The Parliament Committee on Casinos with 100 Diet members has been gathering information on casinos, and Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara has been a major proponent of the idea. In fact, 22 prefectures have already signed up to build Las Vegas-style casinos given the chance.
It makes sense for Japan to get into the casino business. It is already the world's largest producer of slot machines, and having casinos would bring more foreign tourists to Japan and improve prefectural finances.
With the legalization of gambling in the United States, Macao, Singapore and elsewhere, governments have been able to eliminate criminal elements and corruption from the industry and capture the revenue for the public good while turning gambling into a safe and profitable form of public entertainment.