Reuters – Moves towards legalising casinos in Japan have reignited a debate over the legal status of pachinko, with a potential new tax mooted for a $200 billion gaming industry that has existed for decades on the fringes of the law. Pachinko, a slot-cum-pinball form of gambling, is a national obsession, with one in six Japanese playing the game, though that number is declining as younger generations prefer to play games on their mobile phones. With past links to organized crime, pachinko is not classified as gambling, which is illegal in Japan. Instead it’s treated as an amusement activity like…

Boston.com – There is statewide support for expanded casino gambling and for a contentious power line transmission proposal, a survey conducted for the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce shows. Chamber President Chris Williams said Monday that the poll taken by the University of New Hampshire found 58 percent of people surveyed wanted to expand gambling. Most — 43 percent — said a casino should be located in the southern part of the state, according to the survey that was taken in February, before last week’s House vote against expanding casino gambling. Williams acknowledged that legislative hurdle has been persistent and…

Courier Journal – Gov. Steve Beshear acknowledged Wednesday that the effort he supports to pass expanded gambling legislation in this year’s session is challenged, but added it’s not dead yet. “I think it’s premature to say that it is dead at this point,” he said. “It is a work that is in progress.” The Senate Republican majority caucus discussed the issue on Monday and decided not to move forward, with Sen. Dan Seum, R-Louisville and sponsor of the Senate Bill 33 casino amendment, saying he still lacked the 23 votes to pass the amendment in the 38-member Senate. Senate Majority…