July 13, 2018

A major U.S. casino operator has donated money to several Japanese politicians as well as key persons inside the Abe administration by means of purchasing their fundraising party tickets, it was revealed in the weekly magazine "Shukan Bunshun" on July 12.

According to the Shukan Bunshun, it obtained a list made by a lobbyist that has sought the U.S. casino giant Caesars Entertainment's entry into Japan.

The ticket-purchasing list includes the names of 15 politicians and shows that the casino-entertainment company spent 1.52 million yen on ticket purchases between 2014 and 2016.

The 15 politicians on the list were mainly lawmakers of the cross-party pro-casino parliamentary group: 11 Lower House members from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party; one from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan; one independent; and two former Lower House members from the "Ishin no Kai" party.

Past related article:
> 70% of casino profits in Japan may go back to overseas casino owners [June 26, 2018]
> Casino bill steamrollered through Lower House committee [June 16, 2018]