Houston Community News >> Japan May Open Door to Casinos
4/16/2007 JAPAN – As reported
by the Taipei Times: "The world's top casino operators are jockeying for a stake
in a vast but untapped market as Japan moves closer to an overhaul of its strict
gambling laws to lure rich Asian tourists and boost its economy.
"Japan would be a latecomer to a gambling boom across the region, which is
looking to Las Vegas-style super casinos to entice more tourists, with two huge
complexes springing up in Singapore to take on the Chinese enclave of Macau.
"Taiwan is considering lifting its ban on casinos and Thailand is seen as likely
to relax its gaming laws in the coming years.
"…Lawmakers from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are already
drawing up proposals to allow a handful of huge Vegas-style casinos, which could
open their doors within a few years.
"Almost half of the lower house of the Diet -- including some opposition
lawmakers -- supports the general idea of legalizing casinos, said Toru Mihara,
adviser to the LDP's casino study group…"
(Courtesy of RGT Online)