Japan's casino legislation pushed back until 2018

Abe’s ratings have recovered to 50 percent in some polls, helped by public jitters over North Korea’s missile and nuclear tests and chaos in the opposition Democratic Party, which has been struggling with single-digit support and defections.

Abe told executives of his Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, the Komeito party, that he might dissolve parliament’s lower house for a snap poll after the legislature convenes for an extra session from Sept. 28, the sources said.
Top LDP and Komeito officials will meet on Monday to discuss preparations, they added.

“Until now, it appeared the election would be next autumn, but ... we must always be ready for battle,” domestic media quoted Komeito party chief Natsuo Yamaguchi as telling reporters on Saturday during a visit to Russia.

One option is to hold a snap election on Oct. 22, when three by-elections are scheduled, the sources said. Other possibilities are later in October or after an expected visit by U.S. President Donald Trump in early November

Abe will probably make a decision after returning from a Sept. 18-22 trip to the United States, the sources said.

Abe’s ratings had sunk below 30 percent in some surveys in July, battered by suspected cronyism scandals and a perception that he had grown arrogant after more than four years in office.

In 2016, legislation was passed to modify the national constitution and allow casino gambling in the country. A snap election could push the treatment and passing of the so called IR bill until next year. Still, some experts beleive such plans should not necesarilly mean bad news.

“As contemplated today, the IR bill seems to be heading down a track of being far too restrictive,” Govertson told GGRAsia. “A longer-dated passage of the IR bill could allow the industry and the legislature, via the expert panel, to draft a more appropriate IR Implementation Bill that can be a win-win for all parties.”

According to Govertson, current draft regulations were becoming “more restrictive by the day” with over-regulation expected to ultimately stifle Japan’s new casino sector and dissuade major companies from investing.