The ever-tightening restrictions being touted for Japan’s integrated resorts could see skill games including poker and sports betting banned from casino floors. According to national newspaper The Mainichi, a list of recommendations submitted to the government by the Expert Committee last month includes stringent guidelines on the types of games that should be allowed in the nation’s casinos with key features being that they can be easily controlled by the operator, can only be played at casinos and, most significantly, are based on chance. If enforced, the guidelines would limit the games available to the likes of baccarat, blackjack, roulette and sic bo…

Gaming machine manufacturer and casino management systems firm Aristocrat Gaming has agreed a deal to sell its Japanese operation to Japan-based Fields Corporation. Under the agreement, the sale will incorporate Aristocrat’s entire operations in the Asian country, including KK Aristocrat Technologies and KK Spiky. News of the sale comes after Aristocrat in April announced that it was to exit the Japanese market in order to focus its effort on operations elsewhere. The decision to withdraw from the country led to the agreement with Fields, which itself identified an opportunity to utilize Aristocrat’s operations in Japan. More at iGaming Business

Japan has taken a step closer to introducing a legalised gambling market after a bill to allow the opening of casino-based Integrated Resorts was submitted to the country’s parliament. According to the PokerNews.com website, if approved the bill could lead to the creation of one of the world’s largest gambling markets, third only behind Macau and the US. The bill has gained support from a number of political parties in the country and is expected to be both discussed and passed by August – when the current parliament ends. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also voiced his backing for…

Reuters – A Japanese opposition politician on Thursday submitted a set of demands to ruling party lawmakers who are proposing a bill to legalise casino gambling, pushing back much-awaited parliamentary debate to next Wednesday at the earliest. The delay raises the risk of the bill failing to pass parliament this year, which would dampen the hopes of global casino firms keen to unlock a gaming market expected to be worth up to $40 billion a year in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Pro-casino lawmakers had aimed to begin debate in the lower house this week – before the end…

Reuters – Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe on Friday said developing a casino was not a priority for the city and urged more debate about potential problems like money laundering that could arise should casinos be legalised in Japan. The governor has said little about the issue and investors, lobbyists and global casino operators have been waiting for him to clarify his stance, as Japanese lawmakers prepare to consider a bill to open up the country to casino gambling. “This is not at the top of my agenda. I don’t believe that you must have casinos to improve the economy,” Masuzoe…

Las Vegas Review Journal – Officials with high-flying Las Vegas Sands Corp. raved about last year’s financial results and were giddy about potential expansion in Asia during an annual shareholder meeting Wednesday. Sands is on track to add thousands of hotel rooms by the end of next year after it completes a St. Regis Tower and a Paris-themed casino in the lucrative Chinese gambling enclave of Macau, according to CEO Sheldon Adelson. The company also has its eyes on Japan and South Korea. “They present the most promising and meaningful development opportunities in the world,” Adelson said of the Asian…