The American Gaming Association (AGA) hosted a briefing on casino industry for members of Japan’s parliament in Washington D.C. on Sunday.
The briefing for Diet members coincided with a trip by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the U.S., which included an address to the U.S. Congress on April 29.
“AGA is serving as a critical resource for Japanese influencers and decision makers on the positive role that casino gaming has played in the United States and other global markets,” said AGA President and Chief Executive Geoff Freeman. “Casino gaming is a proven mechanism for attracting tourists, strengthening local economies and strengthening communities.”
AGA will also hold a roundtable discussion in Tokyo about the casino industry for Japanese journalists on May 18.
One week prior to Japanese legislators resubmitting their casino study bill, AGA volunteered to help Japan shape its gaming industry by providing information and experience to officials within the country.
A group representing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the Japan Innovation Party and the Party for Future Generations officially submitted the casino legislation for debate on April 28, hoping that it will be discussed and approved before the end of Diet session on June 24.
AGA offering its support to Japan might seem to be unusual but it is believed that if a bill is passed, some US-based casino operators, such as MGM Resorts and Las Vegas Sands, would have a significant stake in building and operating integrated casino resorts throughout the country.
