Las Vegas Sands, Genting Singapore, MGM Resorts, Melco Crown Entertainment and others are waiting in the wings as potential investors in what analysts say is one of the world’s largest untapped markets, worth tens of billions of dollars each year.
But parliament was unlikely to have enough time to pass the controversial law during the current session, which ends on November 30, the coalition official said.
"The hurdle is quite high for both the lower and upper houses to enact it" during the current session, Keiichi Ishii, policy chief of Komeito, the junior partner in Abe's coalition government, said, adding that there was concern among some Komeito members over the effects of gambling on society
Macau casino operators Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International and Melco Crown Entertainment are among the companies attracted by a casino gaming market in Japan