A time limit on visits to casinos by locals was among the talking points of the second public hearing by the Japanese government to explain its integrated resorts policies.
The event was held in Osaka, which is considered a leading candidate to be awarded an IR licence should the IR Implementation Bill currently under review be passed by the Diet in the coming months. Governor Ichiro Matsui has publicly declared his support as a means of boosting tourism in the region. Osaka’s Yumeshima island was also singled out as a possible location for an “Osaka Strip” of integrated resorts in a special White Paper released by consultancy firm Global Market Advisors in May. But convincing a sceptical public of the benefits of an IR is looking increasingly difficult, with the public hearing revealing doubts over whether proposed measures, including an entry fee for locals, would be effective.
