Japan's lower house passes long awaited bill to legalise casinos

Japan's lower house of parliament on Tuesday passed a long-awaited bill to legalise casinos, a big move towards opening up a market that analysts say could be worth some USD 30 billion a year.

Some opposition members walked out of the chamber before the vote in  protest at the bill, which comes after years of delays linked to worries about gambling addiction and organised crime.

"The bill passed through the chamber and will be sent to the upper house by today," a parliamentary spokeswoman said.

The proposed legislation is all but assured to pass the upper house, which is also controlled by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

The LDP is expected to try to get to the bill passed quickly before the current parliamentary session ends on December 14.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his party are betting that casinos can  support tourism after Tokyo hosts the 2020 Olympics -- and pump some life into their faltering bid to boost the world's number three economy.

Supporters have said casinos could bring billions of dollars worth of investment, in a challenge to Asian gaming titan Macau.

Japan has long been viewed as a massive gaming market due to its wealthy population, close proximity to China and appetite for other forms of legal gambling, including horse and boat racing.

Pachinko, a slot machine-style game played in thousands of smoky parlours in every corner of Japan, is a huge revenue generator. Winnings can be exchanged off-site for cash, skirting gaming laws.

Osaka, Tokyo and nearby Yokohama have all been cited as possible locations for major resorts that would host casinos, hotels, convention centres and entertainment venues.

Brokerage CLSA estimates the casino market could be worth upwards of USD 30 billion a year, in addition to the sums already being spent.

"The world's leading operators regard Japan as a holy grail given the potential market size," Jay Defibaugh, a senior research analyst at CLSA, said in a report.

"Gambling industries in Japan, including pachinko and public gambling, such as horseracing, car racing, bicycle racing and boat racing, already generate in excess of USD 30 bn in gross gaming revenue."