High level sources familiar with negotiations amongst members of the Upper House of the Japanese Diet — the House of Councillors — have told Inside Asian Gaming that passage of the long-awaited IR Implementation Bill is now “a done deal” and will be passed this week, just sneaking in before the end of the current Diet session this Sunday 22 July.
Opponents had called on the government to halt any further discussions over the IR bill due to the recent devastating floods that have left over 200 dead with dozens more still missing across the country.
Japan’s Lower House — the House of Representatives — passed the bill on 19 June and the House of Councillors has been deliberating the bill in earnest over the last eight days.
On 20 June, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and Natsuo Yamaguchi, chief of junior coalition partner Komeito, agreed to extend the current Diet session until 22 July in an attempt to ensure passage of key legislative measures, including the IR Implementation Bill.
Passage of the IR Bill will open the door for Japan’s first casino resorts with three initial IR licenses to be offered. It is expected that two will be located in metropolitan areas and one in a regional location.
