Japan Casino Bill Unlikely to Pass National Diet Until 2018

The Japan casino bill currently being worked on in the National Diet might be delayed by the upcoming snap election that will dissolve the parliament s lower legislative chamber.

On Monday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced there will be an election to replace the 475 members of the House of Representatives. The vote will occur on either October 22 or 29, the former the more likely date.

The decision to bring in a new chamber means passing the integrated casino resort bill will almost certainly be delayed until the new year.

Under Article 7 of the Japanese Constitution, prime ministers are able to dissolve the membership of the House of Representatives before the scheduled end of the chamber s full term. Only once since World War II has a prime minister not disbanded the house.

Abe will reportedly look to support candidates who are focused on education, as well as those who might endorse a constitutional amendment to increase the country s self-defense. He might also take into account a lawmaker s willingness to vote in favor of the casino bill.

Known as the IR Implementation Bill, Japan s Diet has been crafting the for months.

When it s eventually revealed to the public, it s expected that the law will authorize two casino resorts, one in Tokyo, and the other in either Osaka or Yokohama. Casino floors will be limited to 15,000 square meters, or 161,458 square feet, and mass market play will be taxed at an effective rate of 22 percent.