Japan’s casino launch timeline faces further delays after the government opted to postpone the formation of a new regulatory body for its proposed integrated resorts (IR).

On Wednesday, Japanese media reported that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was backing off plans to create a new five-member casino management commission by July 1. The decision will likely delay the body’s formation until next year.

Abe (pictured) is reportedly skittish about putting the casino issue on the media’s front pages ahead of this July’s elections for the Diet’s (legislature’s) upper house. The subject remains hugely controversial with the general public, who fear the potential downsides to society of casinos.

The delay also applies to the government finalizing its ‘basic policy’ of IRs, which includes where the country’s maximum possible three IRs will be situated and the rules governing the casino licensing process.