Osaka says casino revenues will help fund gambling addiction measures
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It’s estimated that fees and gaming taxes from the future MGM Osaka resort will provide around US$8.6m a year for prevention and treatment programmes.
Japan.- Osaka prefectural and city officials have said that a portion of the revenue generated by the MGM Osaka integrated resort will be used to finance measures to address gambling addiction. Speaking at a public briefing, they said that entrance fees paid by Japanese residents and casino gaming revenues are expected to provide approximately JPY1.4bn (US$8.6m) annually for prevention, treatment and awareness initiatives.
According to the authorities, each Japanese attendee will pay an entrance fee of JPY6,000 (US$37).
The announcement came in response to concerns from residents and anti-gambling advocates, who argue that the resort’s casino could account for roughly 80 per cent of the property’s revenue and increase the risk of problem gambling.
Officials said dedicated funding for addiction programmes has been part of the project from the outset and that public-awareness campaigns have already been revised with input from medical experts.
Authorities confirmed that the resort, which is scheduled to open around 2030 on Osaka’s Yumeshima island, is expected to attract about 20 million visitors per year, or roughly 50,000 a day, based on demographic data, tourism statistics and comparisons with integrated resorts overseas.
It’s estimated that fees and gaming taxes from the future MGM Osaka resort will provide around US$8.6m a year for prevention and treatment programmes. Japan.- Osaka prefectural and city officials have said that a portion of the revenue generated by the MGM Osaka integrated resort will be used to finance measures to address gambling addiction….
