Japan-The Next Casino Haven
The Japanese are coming!!!
Casinos widely operate in Japan, just like in other countries which use casinos as tourists’ attraction.The only difference is, in Japan, casinos are illegally-run since casinos and other forms of gambling are not legalized. However, as Japan opens up to the world, its potential as tourists’ haven for casino gambling is soon to be unleashed, paving its way in the gambling industry, just like Singapore and Macau, which are hot spots for casino and other gambling activities.
From Japan Could Be Next Asian Hotbed for Legalized Gaming By Richard N. Velotta
SINGAPORE — Where will be the next casino hotspot in Asia after Macau and Singapore?
An expert from Osaka University of Commerce says he’d bet on Japan.
Ichiro Tanioka, who has conducted a series of studies on behalf of Japan’s Liberal Party, said the stage is set for the introduction of legalized gaming in Japan.
Tanioka said that there already is a proliferation of illegal gambling in Japan and that the number of pachinko and pachislo machines operating in Japan outnumbers slot machines worldwide.
He estimated there also to be 200,000 illegally run underground casino bars — called "shantis" — operating in Japan today generating more than $10 billion U.S. dollars revenue a year.
According to Tanioka’s study, there were nearly 5 million pachinko-type machines operating in Japan, while traditional slots numbered 2.4 million worldwide. In addition, he said there already is legal wagering in Japan on horse, bicycle, boat and motorcycle racing.
