Gov't proposes Y2,000 casino admission fee for Japan residents

the government plans to introduce the fee system partly to finance measures for preventing gambling addiction

One more half-arsed measure against a problem they're creating.

I don't have enough of two hands to facepalm myself.

They the government after years of discussion meetings have no clue. Casinos are a social burden. Now the government after giving a corrupt green light are starting to realise the cost. ¥2000 yen admition ¥2billion annual tax payer cost.

More easy money for the nation suddenly "concerned" about gambling as they encourage it full-scale.

They should charge admission fees based on the patron's height - a certain amount per centimeter. Easier to calculate and makes about as much sense.

This is the model used in Singapore.

In Singapore a charge of $S 100 is charged to residents of Singapore entering. Foreign passport holders on tourist status are allowed entry for free.

The odds are in favour of the house as it was, now you are 2,000 yen in the red before even rolling a dice

Test that on Pachinko places first and see how that goes!

the government plans to introduce the fee system partly to finance measures for preventing gambling addiction, government sources said. 

Yeah, a very bloody small part no doubt. What an absolutely ridiculous thing to do. How do they intend to tell the difference between foreign residents and foreign tourists?

Yes, a 2,000 yen fee will stop gambling addicts from entering a casino. Only in the heads of the LDP would this work.

This is beyond parody.

How do they intend to tell the difference between foreign residents and foreign tourists?

Umm by checking the Visa Status in a passport or gaikokujin card!

Japanese people love gambling. Car parks are always full during weekdays at pachinko parlors. This new proposition will certainly get the attention of the Yakuza - the ‘ore ore’ and ‘1giri’ are getting old hat. :)

i love the gov't's sudden concern over gambling addiction, like it's some sudden problem that emerged out of nowhere. if you're so worried about gambling then first get rid of all those gosh darn pachinko parlors. we haven't japanese people voted out these bozos? arghhh...

Test that on Pachinko places first and see how that goes!

To die hard slots players here, that is less than 5 minutes worth of coins, they will pay to play!

Umm by checking the Visa Status in a passport or gaikokujin card!

Not too many foreign residents carry their passports around with them! Same as foreign residents not being able to shop in the duty free stores here on island.

So basically you can’t park for free and lose your shirt.

who gets the ¥2000? Casino, LDP?

@NickinJapan - Umm by checking the Visa Status in a passport or gaikokujin card!

A foreign tourist won’t have a residents card and casino staff have no right to check anybody’s visa status in their passport. Do you want to try again? Go for a double gamble!

I would not show my passport to some kid at the door in a gambling joint.

The government, hoping to attract more foreign tourists to Japan with casinos, plans to charge a 2,000 yen admission fee across the country for Japan residents regardless of nationality, while giving free admission to foreign visitors.

How's that for discrimination?

Hmmmm, an admission fee would probably be a deterrent for small punters but could also have the opposite effect I.e. '2000y wtf, might as well have a good time!'

Could do with a couple of sport bookies though. Nothing beats a Friday arvo footy bet on your way to the pub or even better AT your local, just sayin'!

I always ask the staff at the combini to touch the over 20 year old button when I buy alcohol, because I say I am only 19. They always do.

This will be like a continuation of Japan’s 1970-1990 bubble economy, which you have still to recover from with 280% of GDP in dept!

Allowing casinoes will only benefit rich people who can afford it. People with less afford are likely to lend money, and most likely thereby lose it. Only expanding Japan’s debt.

No good!

Casinos that charge us locals extra for having them in our own backyards? Booooooooooooo........

The Singapore model. Don’t see the problem with that. Keep the one cup sake old geezers from wasting their pension. Maybe.

Those with money for gambling- 2,000 yen is peanuts.

To avoid entrance fee, gambler will go to yakuza's dice games. By the way, three cards shown top, blackjack loss.

Macao became top casino city. Then China decided to collect entrance fees. It is no longer top city.

Just avoid entering casinos if you have to. Pay entrance fees. If you are curious what inside of casino looks like, watch Robart DiNero stared Casino. It is different now but it shows inside of casino some years ago.

Dumb just got DUMBER!!!

A foreign tourist won’t have a residents card and casino staff have no right to check anybody’s visa status in their passport. 

You are correct casino employees have to right to demand someone show their passport or other id card, just like a department store staff has no rights to check a person's visa status or a JR staff cannot force one to show a person's visa status, but

When a foreign tourist buys something duty free, the local department store staff cannot force a tourist to show their ID card, however, they can refuse to issue them a duty free refund if they do not prove they are eligible for that refund. JR cannot force you to show your passport, but they can deny you the issuance of a JR Pass if you dont prove your status.

Casino staff cannot force you to show your visa status, but they are within their rights to deny free entry to someone they cannot prove eligbility to enter.

Meant to say:

You are correct casino employees have NO right to demand someone 

Casino employees will have. deligated authority to inspect id and two of them will collect entrance fee. Singapore and Macao were doing. And minors can be arrested. In US it is different as there is no entrance fee.

So, the Japanese version of Gambling institutions are exempt ? i.e. Pachinko ?

Wonder if Trump will pick upon this one ?

In Seoul at the Casino, no foreign passport (non South Korean passport), no entry. Korean passport holders can enter by showing evidence they are living in another country.

1) I think that 2000yen should be given to local municipalities for funding local projects (ie. child care facilities, retirement homes, parks, etc.)

2) Why would this apply to just casinos? Why not every other gambling venue? (ie. pachinko, horse/boat/bicycle racing)

I would not show my passport to some kid at the door in a gambling joint.

Really? Consider this, you are a tourist, in a foreign country no less, your ONLY legal form of identification is your passport. You want to get in, you'll show it.

You have to show it, by law, to check into a hotel, and all these casinos, when they get built, will be inside hotels and resorts.

your passport. ..... You have to show it, by law, to check into a hotel

I have never, ever, ever, been asked for my passport to check into a hotel here. I don't carry it with me, I've never needed it.

Only non-residents are required to show their passport. Foreign residents are exempt.

That 2000 yen is a stealth tax that will go nowhere near helping addicts. Japan doesn't help anybody with antisocial problems!

Can we have someone running this country that has a clue please?

Just when I think they couldn't be any stooopider they get even stooooopider.

I've got a few vices but im glad gambling aint one of them.

Addicts will gamble regardless, at least here it will be in a safe environment. Instead of a stealth tax which will not address the issue there are a number of measures used elsewhere, one of which is to make the casino operators responsible for identifying problem gamblers, with stiff penalties and loss of license for repeated failures. There need not be anything intrinsically wrong with casinos dependent on how they are implemented and regulated.

I have never, ever, ever, been asked for my passport to check into a hotel here. I don't carry it with me, I've never needed it.

I have, and when I say I don't have it they asked for the ARC/Zairyo card. I travel a lot with my husband on business, even when he has booked the room, I am asked for my passport/card. Polite versions of "Why?" and "Piss off" are the usual responses. On one occasion we took my MIL to an onsen, when the receptionist eyed me wearily and asked for my passport my usually quiet and mild MIL tore into her.

Pay money to go inside and lose money. I can't stand the majority of politicians. These people find new ways to fleece the public at every turn. Preventing gambling addiction my rear.

That law would is segregation based on where you live.

Why not do the same with onsen/Izakaya/100yen shops then to get more taxes ?

Pure non-sense which leads to hatred because next time it could be following your race/gender or whatsoever.

This could could actually have the opposite effect and encourage people to gamble more. They are already 20 bucks out of pocket by the time they get in the door, so they are at the very least try to recover their entry fee.

MGM, Sands and Wynn had been proposing casinos in Japan for many years. Then finally Wynn's idea of Integrated casino was accepted. It is high rise building hotel shopping centers. with a couple floors of gaming floors. Wynn did not expect entrance fees, I'd bet. But I don't think Wynn Entertainment Corp will create Casino in Japan. It revealed a new large Casino complex in Vegas Strip. Mr. Wynn was ousted from the company. He is wealthy but Nevada Gaming Control Board decided he can not operate casino business for several years. Meaning no casinos in Tokyo by Vegas group. Japan might find some rich people who want to spend 60. billion dollars construction cost.

The Mynyar billionaire who asked to create Casino in Tokyo created Chinese style casiiino in Strip blverd but closed now Lucky Dragon. He is not going to make casino in Japan. So, Japan has to forget casios entrance fee income.

In USA, especially Nevada, residents do not pay income tax. Casinos pay gaming business tax revert year. Then the beginning of month casino mails free restaurant coupons if we join their. Club. Also free slot points cards. there is no pachinko in USA. There are video poker machines that locals win. Table. Games are different Chinese billionaires come to lose. I think Japan is targeting Chinese billionaires.