Osaka Casino Resort Proposal Possible to Hold Local Referendum Soon

Plans to host an $8 billion integrated casino resort in Japan and the city of Osaka could be at risk after an anti-gambling group receives enough signatures to trigger a local referendum on the project, it has been reported.

According to a report by GGRAsia, the anti-casino group said earlier this month it had gathered the names of 208,552 local residents who wanted to put the entire Las Vegas-style plan to a referendum. The source explained yesterday that it followed a revelation from the Osaka Prefecture Election Commission that at least 146,472 of those signatures were genuine, well above the 2% threshold needed to trigger a referendum.

Expected action:

Hirofumi Yoshimura, the governor of Japan Law and Osaka Prefecture, is now expected to present a referendum plan with his opinion on a proposal to introduce an integrated casino resort in the 121 acres of the metropolitan city’s man-made Yumeshima Island, according to reports. The news came after the same politician claimed on June 6 that such a referendum would not be necessary and that the completed development would enable the city of nearly 2.8 million people to regenerate the economy and provide full-time employment for thousands of locals.

Initial efforts:

GGRAsia reports that a new referendum campaign has begun about four months after the Osaka City Council officially voted against holding a referendum on a plan to introduce a huge casino resort in the Honshu region. In addition, the gambling Osaka Revival Society political group holds 51 seats in the 88-member Osaka Prefectural Council, and in April it reportedly agreed to submit the city’s ultimate plan for such a project to the federal government.

Distinguished Friends:

Osaka previously named U.S. giant MGM Resorts International as the operator of integrated casino resorts, and reportedly hopes the Tokyo-based select committee will rubber stamp its plans for the Osaka Bay. The Nevada company also reportedly agreed to work with local financial services giant Orix Corp. to secure a 40-year license for a development plan that will include exhibition facilities, multiple hotels, numerous restaurants and non-gambling tourist destinations.

BY: 무료 슬롯