A bill seeking to protect problem gamblers has sailed through the lower chamber of the Japanese Diet over the weekend.

The approval of the anti-gambling addiction bill came at a time when the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) stamped the Integrated Resorts (IR) Implementation Bill as a priority in the legislative agenda on Saturday.

GGRAsia reported that the LDP, its political partner Komeito Party, and opposition group Japan Restoration Party set their differences aside to jointly pass a measure tackling problem gambling issues that may arise when the Diet approves the IR bill.

Many gambling analysts saw the passage of anti-gambling addiction bill as a precursor to the IR bill’s approval. Lawmakers reportedly tried to strike a balance between making gambling establishments—including the $200 billion pachinko industry—profitable while putting some safety nets in order to prevent the emergence of a new generation of problem gamblers.