Japan hopes to keep criminal elements out of its casino market by requiring would-be operators to shoulder the burden of their vetting process.
On Monday, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the Japanese government’s long-delayed Integrated Resorts (IR) Implementation Bill will contain provisions that require prospective casino license applicants to pay the costs of their background checks, as is common in most other gaming jurisdictions.
These costs will be non-refundable, meaning any applicant with skeletons in his or her closet would have to be willing to risk a six- or seven-figure sum on the chance that investigators won’t discover these disqualifying antics.
The government reportedly believes such an upfront cost will be sufficient to deter unwholesome elements like Japan’s infamous Yakuza from seeking to participate in the country’s casino market.