Japanese weekly news magazine Shukan Bunshun has published an article accusing Caesars Entertainment of engaging in a practice which effectively amounts to the bribery of Japanese politicians, but which Caesars argues is an accepted and legal practice.
The substance of the allegation is that an advisor to Caesars Entertainment bought tickets to politicians’ social gatherings, which is a common fundraising method for national political campaigns in Japan.
The fact that the Caesars advisor purchased such tickets for many years is not in doubt. The dispute is over whether or not there is anything wrong with this practice.
Japan’s Political Funds Control Law prohibits donations to politicians by foreign citizens or companies, but the purchase of tickets to politicians’ social gatherings is not covered by the law.
Jan Jones Blackhurst, executive vice president of public policy and corporate responsibility at Caesars, said: “The recent Bunshun article, as it relates to Caesars Entertainment, focuses on the long-standing and legal practice in Japan of buying tickets to political fundraising events.
“We believe that the purchases of such tickets by our consultant over many years were made in accordance with the laws of Japan and other jurisdictions, as well as in accordance with our own robust compliance policies and procedures.”
