Japanese Contemplate Legal Online Casino Gambling
Japan has strict laws against most forms of gambling, excepting only horse racing and lottery plays. But the Japanese government, like most around the world, is desperate for new revenue streams, and online gambling is a source being examined.
Japanese legislators have begun intensive talks with several of the largest online casino operators, discussing potential regulatory formats and the advantages and disadvantages of opening the Japanese market. Japanese officials have seen the results of bringing legalized casinos to Macau.
Internet casino operators would be thrilled to enter the Japanese market. Japan is one of the world's wealthiest economies, with a gross domestic product higher than any other in Asia. Per capita, the Japanese GDP is actually higher than the US.
The Liberal Democratic Party that currently is in power has assured citizens that any gambling would be under strict regulation, with ample design for preventing social ills frequently associated with gambling.
Although the legislative consensus is that Internet casinos may be a good option, the legal process in Japan takes a great deal of time. Proponents of online gambling have set late 2010 as a realistic goal.
