Agroup of lawmakers is now considering a bill that would allow resorts to combine their hotel, shop and restaurant complexes with gambling. If the bill passes, casinos could become a Japanese industry worth several trillion yen.
With the government facing an expensive reconstruction bill from the March 11 disasters, the Japanese government is even more vulnerable to the intensive lobbying efforts of the international gambling industry.
Casino revenue may seem like an easy source of revenue, but the problems associated with gambling taking root as a social habit and as an established industry are extensive. It is unlikely that gambling will solve the serious long-term challenges of the Japanese economy. Many of the companies pushing for legalizing casinos are based in Macau, Singapore or Las Vegas.