Japan’s casino aspirations got a boost on Thursday after the government indicated it would scrap controversial plans to tax the winnings of international gambling tourists. 

On Thursday, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) member Akira Amari, who heads the government’s Research Commission on the Tax System, informed reporters that the LDP was walking back its original plan to impose a withholding tax on non-resident foreigners lucky enough to be carrying gambling winnings through customs on their flight home. 

Amari said the change will be incorporated into Japan’s fiscal 2021 tax package, which will be cobbled together next week. To be clear, Japan signaled an intention to scrap the foreigner tax last year at this time while it was compiling the fiscal 2020 tax plan, so maybe wait until the ink is dry on this one before popping the champagne corks. 

The Kyodo News agency quoted Amari saying “it would be meaningless if no one comes to the integrated resorts after building them,” adding that Japan’s as-yet-unbuilt casinos must be “on par with international standards.”