A local citizens’ group is challenging the proposal to built a $9.1bn casino resort in Osaka, Japan, by MGM Resorts.
Fantini’s Gaming Report today records that 157,000 signatures have been amassed in a petition calling for a referendum on the issue.
That surpasses the 146,000 required for a such a petition and it will now be submitted to the Election Administration Committee. If it is declared valid, then the referendum must be held.
A group representative is reported as saying: “There is a disconnect between the opinions of the city council and the people and the people’s voices are not being heard. This petition will stand in the way of concluding any agreements.”
Early last year an anti-casino lobby in Yokohama raised more than three times the number of signatures required in a petition, campaigning against plans for a casino in that city.
The referendum was rejected by the city council in that case, but the plans were still dashed by a change in mayor to an anti-casino campaigner.
