Japan Press Weekly

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2014 October 8 - 14 [POLITICS]

Pushed by JCP, Abe promises to resign as advisor to pro-casino Dietmembers’ group

Grilled by Japanese Communist Party parliamentalian Daimon Mikishi, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on October 8 at an Upper House Budget Committee meeting said that he will resign as a senior adviser to a Dietmembers’ group calling for legalization of casinos.

The introduction and promotion of casino gambling is a key element in Abe’s economic policy. The prime minister is seeking to pass a bill to lift the ban on casino operations during the current session of the Diet.

Daimon at the committee meeting cited estimates of economic effects of casinos made by the pro-casino Institute of Amusement Industry Studies of Osaka University of Commerce. He said that the institute estimated that if a casino is built in Osaka City, 910,000 people living near the city will spend 41.5 billion yen at the entertainment facility. This means that nearly one million people will be exposed to the risk of developing a gambling addiction, Daimon stressed.

The JCP lawmaker pointed out that casinos will produce various social problems, such as multiple debt, gambling addiction, and juvenile delinquency. He criticized Abe for serving as a senior adviser to the casino advocacy group while being in charge of dealing with casino-related problems.

Abe in response said, “I see your point and will resign as an advisor to the group.”

Past related articles
> JCP calls for support for gambling addicts and killing of bill to OK casinos [April 29, 2014]