The anti-casino faction in Japan has suffered a setback after the elections for the influential mayor’s job at Yokohama went against them.

Blow for casino opponents

Fumiko Hayashi was the winner by a distance. He is the current mayor and will serve his third term.

Hayashi has expressed support for a resort casino in the city initially and latterly adopted a neutral position - but two of his opponents for the job were very much against the idea of a casino resort.