
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may push a casino bill after April’s municipal elections.
Japan could be home to some worldwide’s biggest casinos, or it might not allow any casino gambling at all within the future that is near.
The prospects of legislation to allow casinos in Japan, perhaps the last great untapped market in the world of gambling, have gone up and down almost unpredictably: at times, it has seemed as though a bill would imminently pass, only to see those hopes all but evaporate just days later for the last two years.
Now, it seems that the upcoming municipal elections in Japan could provide a bit that is key of towards getting a casino bill passed.
According to some reports, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to wait until after the April elections before deciding whether or not to put his political muscle mass behind getting such legislation through the legislature that is japanese.
Abe Desires to Convince Coalition with Strong Municipal Election Results
Abe is really a proponent that is big of gaming, since is the majority of his party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). But, there have still been questions regarding simply how much public support there is behind the proposals, and Abe are seeking to the municipal elections to prove that the general public is behind his agenda.
That could help make an impression on more members of Komeito, the Buddhist party that forms part of Abe’s ruling coalition. Users of Komeito have come out against permitting casinos, expressing concerns throughout the possibility of increased gambling addiction and other issues that are social.
Regardless if the casino legislation is proposed, it probably means merely a promotion bill is seen into the current session associated with Japanese Diet (or parliament). The many delays for the casino bill means so it’s not likely any casinos might be approved and constructed by 2020, the initial target date that would have had the proposed integrated resorts up and running in time for the Tokyo Olympics.
If gambling enterprises are approved, it seems that Osaka and Yokohama will be the most most likely towns and cities to host them. Political support for casinos is much stronger in those locations compared to Tokyo, and land is more affordable in those cities as well.
‘The Tokyo Olympics provides lots of people around the world to Japan, and, along with a resort that is integrated all of Osaka desires to have something for them,’ said Governor Ichiro Matsui.
Setbacks Likely, But Casino Firms Always Show Interest
But at this point, a casino in 2020 would only be possible if everything ran smoothly, and there are likely to be hurdles even in the event Abe can muster the support that is full of coalition. According to reports, a special task force of general public servants that was made to assist guide the casino process might have to be disbanded if a casino bill can not be approved through the first session of the Diet, which will end on June 24.
‘One of this concerns is it is instead hard to keep your hands on central government officers at the Cabinet workplace who are taking care of the IR [Integrated Resort] Bill…as there is absolutely no basis for them to stay without the relevant legislation being passed,’ a Japanese source told GGRAsia.
Regardless of the setbacks, but, there are still many major casino firms that would love to operate a casino in Japan. Sheldon Adelson has said that the Las Vegas Sands would spend ‘whatever it takes’ to open a casino in the country, while MGM Resorts International recently revealed an intend to build a large resort in Osaka.
Amaya Moves Towards Asia in Latest Branding Drive
PokerStars has signed Japanese model Yuiko Matsukawa as a brand name ambassador as part of its reach to the poker market that is asian. (Image: italiapokerclub.com)
In its latest move that is global Amaya is looking to Asia to expand its branding across the world.
When Amaya took on the Rational Group last year, and it was clear that the gaming operator was going to pursue a strategy of aggressive growth for its poker site with it the powerful PokerStars brand.
After all, Amaya had paid $4.9 billion in order to buy PokerStars (and complete Tilt), and to create that worthwhile, the business needed to get techniques to increase income. Which has meant adding new casino games alongside poker, adjusting rake schedules, and most of all, finding new markets to increase its customer base.
While Amaya happens to be seeking new opportunities across the world, it’s clear that the operator’s focus happens to be on a single relatively untapped area: Asia.
While gambling culture is ubiquitous throughout the region, poker is a game that is relatively new most parts of asia, meaning there is still a great amount of room to grow it from the business viewpoint. That growth means lot of the latest revenue, and has now become clear that Amaya wants PokerStars to fully capture as much of that money as possible.
Asian Signings and Sponsorships
Amaya itself seems to desire to point out Asia whenever you can.
In a press release, the organization outlined several initiatives and signings for PokerStars, such as the recent Ninth Anniversary version of its Sunday Million tournament and the beginning of EPT Malta. But the focus ended up being absolutely on Asia, with Amaya specifically talking about ‘initiatives undertaken by…Rational Group to grow the overall game of poker across the world, including in the rising poker market of Asia.’
In the event that you’ve been following along with some of PokerStars’ recent tasks, you may possibly already be familiar with some associated with the actions it’s been using to capture a larger share of the market that is asian. On Tuesday, PokerStars.net officially signed 24-year-old model that is japanese actress Yuiko Matsukawa to behave being a celebrity brand ambassador.
While it is likely that she’s going to be promoting the business most greatly in Japan itself, Matsukawa had been used in other Asian markets: recently, she played in the Macau Poker Cup at the PokerStars LIVE venue in the Chinese enclave, one of many stops on the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT).
PokerStars is cashing in on the poker that is asian by signing players like bracelet winner Naoya Kihara. (Image: WSOP.com)
She’ll be joining A japanese roster for PokerStars that also includes the first-ever player from Japan to win some sort of Series of Poker bracelet, Naoya Kihara, and an online professional, Kosei Ichinose.
Kihara and Ichinose’s signings, along with that of India’s Aditya Agarwal, are notable, in that they come at a right time when PokerStars has reducing the range sponsored pros on its roster in other parts worldwide.
Sponsoring Nanjing Millions
That’s not PokerStars’ only involvement with the APPT, either. The business recently announced that PokerStars.net will be a primary sponsor of the Nanjing Millions, a brand new tournament designed to help offer the continued development of poker in China.
While there have previously been poker that is major in Beijing, PokerStars as well as the APPT are hoping that this tournament, that will be held by the Beijing Star Poker Club, are going to be able to draw players from across the country thanks to its centralized location.
The PokerStars press release also chatted about other areas by which the company hopes to grow, particularly into the world that is emerging of poker streams.
With that in 3d vegas slots mind, PokerStars recently announced the launch of its own official Twitch channel, that will host content from PokerStars benefits. The company also signed expert poker player Jason Somerville, who has continued their Run that is popular it streams on Twitch this month beneath the PokerStars banner.
Adam Meyer ‘Sports Consultant towards the Stars’ Charged With Extortion, Claims Insanity
‘I’m the best and folks are just starting to understand,’ claims an Adam Meyer poster that is motivational. He’s also pleading insanity in their forthcoming trial for extortion and racketeering. (Image: bodybuilding.com)
Adam Meyer, the self-proclaimed ‘Sports Consultant to the Stars,’ who had been arrested in December and charged with wire fraud, extortion, racketeering and brandishing a firearm, is pleading insanity. In order to hammer the point home, he is also claiming he’s a government agent that is secret.
Meyer, the CEO of betting consultancy site Real Money Sports, which charged clients as much as $250,000 for sports advice that is betting made regular TV and radio appearances being a handicapper.
A self-promoter that is tireless he claimed he had a ‘64.8 percent side’ over the bookies and that he won over $1 million betting on the Green Bay Packers at Super Bowl XLV. According to their website AdamWins.com, ‘Adam is box workplace cash, plus the heavy hitters know it. His client list reads like the front page of range.’
But, according to the indictment he also bilked one of his clients, Gary Sadoff, 64, owner of the Badger Liquor Company of Wisconsin, out of $25 million against him. The indictment states that Sadoff started tips that are buying Meyer back in 2007.
The handicapper initially referred Sadoff to a team of bookmakers with whom he falsely advertised he previously no relationship that is commercial. In 2008, Sadoff was tricked into wiring $1.2 million to accounts secretly controlled by Meyer.
Wong Number
When Sadoff later decided he desired to put the kibosh on his gambling habits, Meyer told him his life is at risk because Meyer owed money to a fictional bookie gangster called Kent Wong.
Meyer explained to Sadoff that Wong believed that, because the two men were business lovers, Sadoff had been also accountable for your debt. Meyer would even telephone Sadoff pretending to be Wong, threatening and money that is demanding the businessman.
The situation escalated when Sadoff explained he could no longer deliver any more income. Meyer and ‘an associate’ flew to Wisconsin and threatened Sadoff with a weapon, until he consented to produce a further $9.8 million.
Hedging his Bets
Meyer is using the ‘public authority’ defense, claiming that his crimes were committed at the behest regarding the US government and law enforcement agencies for whom he had been an agent that is undercover. The relevant authorities deny this.
According to papers acquired by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he also claims that he was working for Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and an NCAA Division 1 football group investigating illegal operations that are betting.
And just in case that fails, he’s also insanity that is pleading in order to hedge his bets.
Meyer, whom is now out of prison having published a $1 million bail bond thanks to the Green Bay Packers, is currently confined to a drug rehabilitation center in their native Florida.
