The Japanese government has postponed a plan to tax the casino winnings of tourists due to opposition from the Liberal Democrat Party (LDP), among others.
As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, the government has been considering tax measures for gambling income earned at casinos by foreign visitors as part of a package of legislation for the nation’s IRs. The tax would apply to the net profit of chips at their purchase value at casinos in IR facilities upon cashing out, as well as an obligation on operators to record wins and losses of each game. The plan was to be integrated in the ruling party’s tax reform drafted in December 2020, coming into force from 2021.
However, the LDP has since opposed this due to concerns over the heavy burden it would place on operators and potential limitations on investment into Japan’s casinos. As a result, the reforms were officially postponed on Thursday until next year and a decision made that the matter requires further study.
IAG penned an op-ed this week questioning the growing array of regulations that promise to restrict Japan’s burgeoning IR industry and noting growing investor concerns.
