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Japanese gov't considers limiting casino visits to 10 per month

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How about trying that with Pachinko (パチンコ) places first and see how that works!? I have seen people trying to sell a kidney so they have money to play Pachinko.

25 ( +29 / -4 )

The government hopes the casinos will help attract more foreign tourists to Japan with the limitations not applying to those who do not live here.

And just how many foreigners do you think are going to stay in this expensive country for over thirty days just to gamble?

Oh right, those that are already addicted to gambling.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

I have seen people trying to sell a kidney so they have money to play Pachinko.

Here? In Japan? Trading in organs is highly illegal, and next to impossible to do without having a doctor also involved in the criminal process.

Trading in organs is prohibited by law and doctors operate under an ethics guideline limiting live donor transplants to relatives to prevent such trade from happening.

-7 ( +8 / -15 )

At present, nearly 20% of the population regularly play pachinko and of that 20% over 50% have gambling addiction problems. Yet, the government has done nothing about this besides post statistics online. Why are they so concerned about limiting gambling at the new casino when they haven’t done a flipping thing to control the current gambling problems.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

Here? In Japan? Trading in organs is highly illegal, and next to impossible to do without having a doctor also involved in the criminal process.

@ Yubaru ... Its a figure of speech! ... You know like buying a kilo of beef will cost you a arm and a leg!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@Yubaru, we are talking JAPAN, not other countries. And YES I know people sell organs to feed their habits, be it gambling or drugs. I have been on this floating rock for close to half a century and lived and worked in 8 countries so seen some weird crap that people do.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

we are talking JAPAN, not other countries. And YES I know people sell organs to feed their habits, be it gambling or drugs. I have been on this floating rock for close to half a century and lived and worked in 8 countries so seen some weird crap that people do.

Remember, sarcasm, and "figures of speech", unless noted when written, are practically unreadable on an internet forum such as this, because your "example" was not as outlandish an idea as you probably thought, as people actually DO do what you wrote.

Even you admit that, hence my first incredulous question!

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

the scheme is seeking to keep track of casino visits by using government-issued My Number identity cards, which have an embedded IC chip.

Someday I'd like to take a holiday in the alternative universe inhabited by the LDP.

18 ( +19 / -1 )

What a joke, you can gamble and go to pachinko and prostitutues all the time, but because it’s a “casino” and “foreign” with cards and stuff, it must be bad...and we will put a kindergarten rule on everyone and you only get to go ten times.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Absolutely retarded. They dare call themselves politics, legislators, having the well-being of the people as their most heartfelt desire? I guess the addicted fools will have to lose it all in fewer visits now.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Like the "integrated resort" euphemism, another sticking plaster supposed to convince the gullible that the government cares about the negative effects of gambling. It does not. Its simply an easy way for vested interests to make money, and whatever happens to anyone caught up in it doesn't matter.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

If they really want to limit visits to reduce gambling addiction, why don’t they make it legal for residents of this safety island country to only visit casinos in other countries like Macau, the US, and Monaco? That way the gambling addicts will limit their visits based on their incomes (10 trips per month to Monaco would prohibit most addicts)?

Why don’t they? Because the LDP/Abe has no intention of doing anything to help gambling addicts. They’ll float this ‘proposal’ to show their concern, then ignore it.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

why do people think the government needs to limit people's gambling habits but not their pachinko, smoking and eating habits?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

I am super impressed at how the government creates a problem, and offers half-arsed counter measures to it.

Question : is it a 10 visits limit on one casino, or every casinos in the country ? I can smell a loophole coming from miles away.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

So what’s to stop people from gambling ILLEGALLY if they keep track of people’s casino visits?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

up to three visits are allowed in seven consecutive days and 10 visits in 28 consecutive days.

Why do they always apply such complicated rules here?

Anyway, I would have thought that even once per week would be considered an addiction.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The kind of lukewarm/ middle-of-the-road measure -to appease both sides- that won't resolve anything. Either bar/strictly limit entry to your own citizens or do not impose any restrictions and own up to your decision that's based solely on $ & completely disregards people's welfare.

I find this measure particularly hypocritical & illogical considering one can lose literally everything in a one-hour gambling spree.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

How about trying that with Pachinko (パチンコ) places first and see how that works!? I have seen people trying to sell a kidney so they have money to play Pachinko.

Just about the most sensible suggestion I have read on here in a long time.

Limiting visits to 10 times!? These folk have no idea about gambling or addiction to gambling. Folk can lose their shirt on 1 visit!!

I'm all for casinos and people choice to gamble. (Big poker fan myself) I could go there every night and stick to my affordable limit because I have it under control. So why limit my access because others can't control their spending?

You could have independent, government sanctioned staff at the casino who look out for such folk and act accordingly...controlling their access and not mine.

(Of course these folk would be open to bribes from the casino to lay off their "best" customers...never said it was perfect)

4 ( +8 / -4 )

How about trying that with Pachinko (パチンコ) places first and see how that works!? I have seen people trying to sell a kidney so they have money to play Pachinko.

Just about the most sensible suggestion I have read on here in a long time.

(Sorry Nick...forgot to credit you)

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Yeah.....this "brilliant plan" will work just as fine as the smoking ban.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Why don’t they? Because the LDP/Abe has no intention of doing anything to help gambling addicts. They’ll float this ‘proposal’ to show their concern, then ignore it.

That was my first thought, too. I think this is just lip-service like one of Abe's magical arrows... Let's appear to give a __.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Typical.... why don't they just wait and get information before they act.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I would rather they do not open. I am against gambling and I do not gamble (we all have addictions and I guess my addictions are wine, food, and travel). I have seen gambling destroy one very close friend's life, literally as he truly was addicted.

If they must....how about doing what Singapore does? If you want to gamble, and you are a citizen, you need to put down a pretty hefty deposit. I wonder if this will apply to non-citizen residents (note the verbiage "living in the country"). I guess that is harder to check now as now that we have a zairyu card there are no visas stamped in our passports.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

This clearly comes from people who have very little knowledge of gambling addiction. It's not like been an heroin addicted where you physically need heroin every day. You could be a gambling addicted and go to Casino just 3/4 times a month. At the same time you could go 20 times a month and be a perfectly fine person. It's a lot more complicated than just the number of time you visit a Casino.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Ah Japan. The land that even IF you get thrown a little fun freedom bone, there's always a "catch" and a leash attached to it. Unless you're a smoker of course.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Just another way for them to take or you to give your hard earned money. So sad.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@Andy - having watched a very close friend destroy his life due to gambling I could not agree with you more. The problem is...money talks (not only in Japan but in the US, Europe, pretty much anywhere in the world).

My friend could have satisfied his addiction in numerous ways (not hard to find a card game where he was in the U.S.) but having spoken to him once, the allure of the casino and the surrounding atmosphere (excitement, seeing others also gambling, noise, alcohol) seemed to amplify his addiction and that is what did it for him.

Singapore probably has the right idea on this one.....I guess.... (take advantage of the addicts from other countries and protect your own)

1 ( +3 / -2 )

10 times a month is not an addiction? Let's say you go once a week, 4 times a month, that's already quite addicted tbh.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Will the casino profits go to North Korea like pachinko?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

This is Japan wisdom at work. They see the cost of gambling addiction not just to the families, but to the government. It's the way it should be done worldwide. There comes a time that governments should start to consider the common good. People are just weak. They follow whatever trend is popular at the moment whatever the cost. The latest stupidly seems to be vaping. A friend of mine just lost half of a lung and a portion of the other due to vaping. This casino limitation is very wise indeed. When do you build a wall to protect the population from a tsunami? Before the storm?, or when you see the swell at the horizon?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Another "cunning plan" for a wealth transfer from the L(egal) D(rugs) P(arty), the same self-styled "patriots" who are always parroting on about "love of country" and (right-wing) "family values", all of which can be fostered by gambling grannies, grandpas, parents and their offspring, NOT!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

DisillusionedToday 07:03 am JSTAt present, nearly 20% of the population regularly play pachinko and of that 20% over 50% have gambling addiction problems.

so 10 % of the population is addicted to gambling? you mean almost 10 million people? once again, your figures are absurd and have no factual basis. how about just doing a quick google search instead of blatantly lying? here's a more accurate figure from Japan Times:

Around 3.2 million Japanese have likely suffered from gambling addiction, a government survey shows

It also said that 0.8 percent — equivalent to around 700,000 people — likely were addicted at some point in the past year,

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I’ve seen people blow a month’s wages in one casino visit.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

This is Japan wisdom at work. 

Yeah... Except until now casinos were forbidden. Where's the wisdom when you're creating the problem in the first place ?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Great point, but I think as always, there's a revenue to be made and a politician with his hand in the cookie jar. Casinos are going to be built because people are going to gamble. It just needs to be controlled and supervised. Another one of life's tolerated evils.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Trying to legislate morality is immoral.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Another one of life's tolerated evils.

gambling is only evil if weak people can not control themselves, other than that its not evil at all, its quite good, like a good meal. Its only bad when people cant control themselves

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Except until now casinos were forbidden.

pachonko parlors.. i see no difference

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Just another way for them to take or you to give your hard earned money. So sad.

people say the same about expensive eateries or luxury brand stores. nobody is forcing anyone to spend anything. stop blaming the business start blaming people with no willpower

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Except until now casinos were forbidden.

pachonko parlors.. i see no difference

Exactly. You don't stop a fire by throwing gasoline on it.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

The department of creating unnecessary problems and then even more useless and bureaucratic time wasting solutions would be proud.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I have personally seen the social carnage a gambling addiction can cause: My uncle was addicted to sports betting and ended up losing the family house, car, and his kids' college funds as he got in deeper and deeper. Eventually his wife left him and he ended up alone, broke, in and out of prison and finally suicide at the age of 47.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

There are many addictions. Smoking, eating, gambling, drinking. Why is gambling the only one that the government will control? I have never heard of the 10 cig a day or 10 drink a day rule

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Exactly. You don't stop a fire by throwing gasoline on it.

how is gambling a fire? Smoking is much worse and causes more deaths. Overeating is even worse for your health, yet we don't call Sushi places fires or evil

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

How about you build casinos if the due diligence proves there is enough demand for it in Japan - and you leave the addiction talk to those who have that problem. Banning it or wanting to put restrictions on it because some people can't handle the ability to play within their means is ridiculous.

And by the way, someone doing something daily, weekly or monthly does not make one addicted. I go to work every day, I'm not addicted to it (and yes, my work does provide highs and lows, same as gambling). I could go to McDonalds every day knowing it's not healthy to eat there, but it would be because it tastes good, not because I can't live without it.

And I could gamble once a year if the only trip I take puts me near a casino that one instance. But if there was one down the street which had games I prefer, than I would just as easily go there a few times a month. Who is anyone here or elsewhere to tell someone they are addicted to something due to the frequency of doing it. They can quite simply ENJOY it. Same as running, biking, collecting stamps, shopping, etc. Some people can become addicted to ANYTHING. Most people simply enjoy it. The end.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

"Throwing gasoline on a fire..." is a most apposite figure of speech, innit? Like, the "fire" stands for the gambling addiction and the proposed casino legislation (the 'gasoline') will provide the solution, NOT! Smoking, drinking and overeating etc are complex problems, each of which requires its own respective treatment whereas citing them as germane to the issue of gambling addiction is mere whataboutery that contributes nothing to the argument over the great social harm that casinos cause.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The Japanese government always makes me laugh with it's "concern" for things it introduces. Common sense dictates if they were genuinely concerned about addiction, they would not introduce casinos or gambling PERIOD. When they are concerned about mad cow disease they block shipments of beef from countries that don't meet their testing criteria, they don't allow it in and then limit each person to 50 kg / month. When they are worried about the strain on the system (and changes to Japanese culture) they don't loosen immigration laws and say they'll worry about there being too many people later. They are worried about drugs so they clamp down on them, not introduce them and loosen laws and say that they'll limit the amount potential addicts can have.

This is just more BS lip-service from a country that has perfected the obviousness of it.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I have never heard of the 10 cig a day or 10 drink a day rule

No, but there are age limits, messages on cigarette packs, no smoking areas, drunk driving offense... So there are rules.

Smoking is much worse and causes more deaths.

Overeating is even worse for your health

And that's why most governments or NGOs in most countries are creating (supposed to at least) rules and taxes and advertisement to encourage people not to smoke, or to eat better.

And by the way, people are also complaining about the japanese government not doing enough against smoking.

https://japantoday.com/category/national/japan%27s-revised-smoking-measures-threaten-smoky-2020-olympics-critics-say

how is gambling a fire?

Maybe because it's a metaphor ?

Ok : you have a fire. Now you throw gasoline on it. Fire gets bigger.

Now, you have pachinkos in Japan. You add casinos to Japan. Gambling addiction problem in Japan becomes bigger.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Someday I'd like to take a holiday in the alternative universe inhabited by the LDP.

if you can't bet them join them.

the only solution is to create a casino island far away from the japanese population. maybe one of the islands off nagasaki. build an airfield. ban domestic flights. then it is difficult for the most prolific japanese to get there without passing through Macau, but easy for chinese gamblers to come here and provide jobs and fund the LDP.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It amazes me how some LDP weasels can say a limit of 10 visits per month is too strict. Assuming someone works Monday to Friday they would still be able to spend every weekend and most of their holidays losing their wages. Are the LDP suggesting that people should be able to skip work to go gambling?

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Heres a fact! If it raises the governments revenue, they’ll want it!

If the public ends up losing money and the government has to pay out and they get less of ur taxes because the Casino has a hold on ur wallet...well that would be seen as a detriment to “society” because you know, they are entitilee to breed us and tax us till death. (then ur descendants also cant inherit ur wealth)

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Way too much...that's govt overreach! Let people do what they want to do. It doesn't hurt anyone but themselves, not to mention that it will only serve to create more crime syndicates running underground casinos. How would be police this anyways?

Also, would this include pachinko? Pachinko is 'technically' not considered to be gambling due to some stupid loophole in the law, but most of the gambling in Japan is pachinko

If anything, I would focus on getting help for people who are already addicted to gambling, and (this may be off on a tangent a bit) but crack down on those who leave kids in cars while the parent go to pachinko palors with stiffer penalties.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What hypocrisy no limit on pachinko

But limits on casinos! Who's being bought off?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I see my taxes are hard at work, again, today.

Someone give me a box of tissues please.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one that found it strange that the LDP including Abe are at odds with the “Japanese government. “

The Japanese government... presented ruling lawmakers a plan....The plan ..... has already met with opposition from lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe...

4 ( +5 / -1 )

This proposal is soooo stupid I don't even know where to start. But let me also add my voice of support regarding Nick's proposal. Start with the Pachinko, as I can see that as a MUCH larger problem than the casinos.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I see my taxes are hard at work, again, today.

Someone give me a box of tissues please.

Sorry we're all out. Everyone's crying.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Jesus H Christ - either have casinos, or don't. You either don't mind the consequences of what comes along with having them, or you do mind (and don't want them). But this talk of having them but with all these caveats is absurd.

Some people have addictive personalities, most do not. Most gamblers view it as fun. And they are adults. They can decide how much money they can afford to lose. Otherwise, let's just ban everything in the world because every item or invention has addicts. Fast food - ban it, people can't stop eating it. Smartphones - ban them, people can't even walk without eyes glued to it. TV - ban it, it dumbs people down by turning them into couch potatoes. The list goes on.

If they build casino(s) here, and put some BS restrictions that say this list of people can't visit whenever they want, or they have to put down a deposit the size of a house payment, etc - people who enjoy gambling will just travel elsewhere which doesn't have these BS restrictions (which is a long list).

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Seriously? That is to funny, limit casino visits to 10 a month, they have a special kind of stupid running this country.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Didn't this same government "limit" overtime work to 100/month legally to "discourage" abuse of overtime?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

What an utterly and totally stupid idea. Either decide to open or not casinos.

This idea to somehow babysit people and limit their freedom is ridiculous. If they decide to open casinos then they should explicitly recognize that people are responsible of their acts in relation to gambling, and they accept the risk of addiction associated with it. Trying to control people access to a legal activity is what a dictatorial country would do. This is crazy.

What I find even more worrying is that the government is basically saying that they are willing to use the My Number ID to track people activity and what they do in their private life. Going to a casino is a private activity and the government is not supposed to know how many times an individual is doing this activity be it less or more than 10 times a month.

This is very troubling since it’s is clear that the government lied when it repeatedly said that the My Number ID will not be used to track people private information of any sort.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

They'll just acquire multiple ID cards, like the nuclear gypsies who work in the Japanese nuclear power plants; who move away and use them once one ID has absorbed all the radiation permitted in one year.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

daito_hak, wonderful comments.

What is it with these people in power? They seem frightened that they may be criticized later for gambling addiction cases.

No! They simply give freedom back to the people in one small facet of life, and make it clear that it is down to individual responsibility. Decriminalizing this is not condoning it or mandating it.

People are speculating on cryptocurrency too, which is akin to gambling, but no talk of tracking how much people risk there, ‘for their own good’.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

LDP..................LOOK, if you are going to TELL me what I can & cant do, THEN give me the damned right to VOTE!!!

That said I likely wouldn't go to a casino to gamble away, but this STUPID idea about controlling foreign residents this way ticks me the hell off!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So are they planning to link an immigration database or otherwise slap citizens with some new kind of identity tracking system?

How exactly are they going to keep track of who is coming and going in these casinos?

Who's going to handle all the paperwork caused by this nonsense?

These politicians are idiots.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Uhhh! What about online gambling?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Japanese government on Thursday presented ruling lawmakers a plan to limit the number of times people living in the country can enter casinos to around 10 per month.

It's a ridiculous and the stupidest idea I ever heard. Government must collect entrance fee 10,000 Yen to Japanese Citizens and free entrance for foreigner proof with Passport.

Casino is a Cancer for Japanese society. Japanese peoples love gambling and they will go to the Casino and try their luck, but Casino is trapped and anyone who fell into trap are never escaping from the trap of the Casino. The home owners will become homeless and the marriage will despair. Many girls will become prostitutes. Patty crimes will increase and the safety of older peoples will compromise.

The Casino operators will demand the Japanese Government for to allow Japanese citizens to access to Casino without condition. The International Casino operators are mouth watering of untouched wealth of Japanese peoples.

The decision for legalized Gambling and allow to open Casino is most unwise decision by the Japanese Government and Politicians. Japanese Government should tell Japanese peoples by " hey the Government will increase tax" instead of "hey, I'll rob you saving by collecting taxes from Casino".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What hypocrisy no limit on pachinko

Not really, pachinko isn't gambling, nor the slot machines either, people don't play for money!

And if ANYONE believes that, ...........

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Japanese gov't considers limiting casino visits to 10 per month" like putting lipstick on a pig!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If pachinko/slots isn't gambling because people are paid out in tokens/balls (with a nondescript side building cashing out chips for cash) - then why are there no casinos here already doing the exact same thing?

A pachinko machine with balls vs a slot with tokens vs a blackjack/craps/baccarat/etc table with colored tokens - and the casino has the same building outside and around the corner?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Nakanoguy - so 10 % of the population is addicted to gambling? you mean almost 10 million people? once again, your figures are absurd and have no factual basis. 

That is 10% of the adult population! Around 5% of the total population to be more precise. I dunno where you get your statistics, but you are totally wrong! The 20% of the population playing Pachinko and up to 60% having gambling addiction issues are from a recent survey done by the government. If people are visiting pachinko two or three times a week they are addicted to gambling. The same goes for horse, boat and bicycle racing. You only belittle yourself by making such outlandish claims about my posts.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The Japanese government on Thursday presented ruling lawmakers a plan to limit the number of times people living in the country can enter casinos to around 10 per month.

I can see a business establishment such as a casino rejecting paying customers, just because it's their 11th visit that month. "Excuse me sir, we appreciate your spending (and losing) ¥10,000,000 every time you visit, but we can't allow you to give us any of your money this month. Thank you, come again!"

Under the plan, put forward by the government to the LDP and its junior coalition partner Komeito, up to three visits are allowed in seven consecutive days and 10 visits in 28 consecutive days.

Ok, wait, let me grab my calendar, slide rule, and abacus first, then I can figure out if I can enter today, tomorrow or not at all for the next 37 days.................

The government hopes the casinos will help attract more foreign tourists to Japan with the limitations not applying to those who do not live here.

Or, maybe the government can lower shinkansen fees, spread out national holidays (enough with the Golden Week stuff) and freeway tolls first, so that locals can actively travel throughout Japan and spend domestic money to help the economy?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The only reason why they suggested the MyNumber ID Card, is so that they can Tax you upon any Winnings, and similar to BitCoin training, not on allow you to offset any losses against Tax dues.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I can see a business establishment such as a casino rejecting paying customers, just because it's their 11th visit that month. "Excuse me sir, we appreciate your spending (and losing) ¥10,000,000 every time you visit, but we can't allow you to give us any of your money this month. Thank you, come again!"

They do that in France. Really. There is a list of people banned from entering casinos, no mostly people full of dough, and they won't let them in no even to reach the restaurant. It's not that the Trump style casino operators like it. Autorities would close the shop. There is a casino near my place and you can always see at leat 4 cops (real police, not private thugs) at the entrance. 2 of them are near the booth where staff check IDs, one looks at the staff and computer data, the other at the visitor. No way to cheat. But you can be a dictator, a yakuza, triad don, or any ganster convicted in his/her country, your money is welcome, you just need to let your gun with your coat before entering.

.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The most important card we have locked in our fireboxes with the most important number will have to be shown to some kid working for the yakuza to enter a gambling place and put in their computers? Talk about taking a gamble. No way.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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