On September 4, 2019, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism ("MLIT") released a draft Basic
Policy ("Basic Policy") on integrated resorts (including
gaming) in Japan. The release of the Basic Policy is required under
the terms of the Specified Complex Tourist Facilities Areas
Development Act ("IR Act"). In accordance with the IR
Act, the Basic Policy is intended to address certain fundamental
issues regarding the development of integrated resorts, such as
general goal, measures for promoting development, and an outline of
basic requirements for implementation policies and area development
plans to be prepared by local governments.
The standards for approving area development plans have received
particular attention in recent months because only three area
development plans will be approved by the MLIT, while a far greater
number of local governments have expressed an interest in hosting
integrated resorts. According to the draft Basic Policy, the