Japan Election Could Delay Casino Bill By Years

With the heightened tension coming from North Korea with recent missile firings over Japan along with the rebound in popularity of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, could mean that the government there will call a snap General Election as early as next month.

Meaning that the whole Integrated Resort momentum could be derailed for at least a year and possibly even longer, with the gambling anti-addiction legislation as well as the IR Implementation Bill taking a back seat to June next year and even further down the line should the government return to power with them having more pressing budget issues to deal with.

It all spells bad news for International Casino Operators hoping that Integrated Resorts would be a reality by 2022, it looks more likely 2025.

Currently the Prime Minister is seeing a huge increase in his approval ratings and with opposition parties seemingly in disarray Shinzo Abe must see this as a perfect opportunity to go to the country but this spells any Diet debate on Integrated Resort bill pushed back a year and should the situation with North Korea worsen the last thing on any politicians mind will be integrated resorts.