The law is expected to require gambling service operators, including municipal governments, to craft basic plans for toughening gambling regulations, the sources said.
The move comes as a law that encourages the central government to lift a ban on casinos in the country went into force on Dec. 26.
““The planned law will cover not only casinos but also existing gambling services including pachinko and horse racing, the sources said
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The central government aims to ease public anxiety about casinos and other gambling services by promoting addiction prevention measures comprehensively.
It is expected to submit the bill to the ordinary Diet session scheduled to open on Jan. 20, the sources said.
The government plans to draw up guidelines that gambling service operators can use to consider tougher restrictions.
Possible measures include banning access to gambling venues by suspected addicts at the request of their families and restricting online purchases of horse betting tickets.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner, Komeito, the largest opposition Democratic Party and other parties are also considering addiction prevention measures, respectively.