DOCSLIB.ORG

Gambling Laws in Asia Adam Shapiro

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Gambling Laws in Asia Adam Shapiro Penn State International Law Review Volume 29 Article 7 Number 2 Penn State International Law Review 9-1-2010 Hold 'em or Fold 'em: Gambling Laws in Asia Adam Shapiro Follow this and additional works at: http://elibrary.law.psu.edu/psilr Part of the International Law Commons Recommended Citation Shapiro, Adam (2010) "Hold 'em or Fold 'em: Gambling Laws in Asia," Penn State International Law Review: Vol. 29: No. 2, Article 7. Available at: http://elibrary.law.psu.edu/psilr/vol29/iss2/7 This Comment is brought to you for free and open access by Penn State Law eLibrary. It has been accepted for inclusion in Penn State International Law Review by an authorized administrator of Penn State Law eLibrary. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Hold 'em or Fold 'em: Gambling Laws in Asia Adam Shapiro* I. GAMBLING'S NEXT BIG WAVE Asia is considered one of the world's most expanding markets for the global casino industry.' Asian casinos, as well as gambling in general, are growing at one of the fastest paces in the world.2 As Asia arises from poverty to affluence, more countries in Asia are becoming middle-income countries, providing people with more money to spend on entertainment. This Comment will look at what the change or creation of gambling laws means for Asian countries. Parts II through V of this Comment will analyze the gambling laws and the process of casino legalization in four major Asian countries: Japan,4 Taiwan, China,6 and Russia. Japan is considering legalizing casinos in a future bill.8 Taiwan passed a referendum in 2009 which failed to meet the public vote, but is ready for yet another vote in 2010.9 China has had casinos in its territory of Macau since 2002.10 Russia legalized casinos in 1988" but in 2009 decided to * J.D. Candidate, The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University (2011). 1. See Paul Wiseman, Legalized Gambling Branches out Across Asia, USA TODAY, May 3, 2007, available at http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2007-05-03-asia- casinos-usat N.htm. 2. See id. 3. See id. 4. See infra Part 11for a discussion on gambling in Japan. 5. See infra Part III for a discussion on gambling in Taiwan. 6. See infra Part IV for a discussion on gambling in China. 7. See infra Part V for a discussion on gambling in Russia. 8. See James Kilsby, Political Uncertainty Rattles Japan's Casino Hopes, GAMBLINGCOMPLIANCE, Sept. 15, 2008, available at http://www.gambling compliance.com/node/19312/. 9. See Taiwan keeps door on Casinos Open, THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER, Oct. 9, 2009, available at http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/business/39747-taiwan- keeps-door-on-casinos-open-. 10. See Macau Law no. 16/2001, art. 1 (Legal Framework for the Operations of Casino Games of Fortune). 385 386 PENN STATE INTERNATIONAL LAW REVIEW [Vol. 29:2 ban most forms of gambling and limited them to the four empty corners of the country.12 Part VI will examine the legislative intent of gambling laws in these Asian countries with a focus on the goals of economic development, promotion of tourism, and social stability, and on whether these goals can actually be achieved.'3 Legislative intent and actual results will be shown to be often quite different.14 Part VII of this Comment discusses the significant impact on the legal world of these Asian countries as gambling laws change.' 5 These changes will require other laws and regulations to be changed, and will create a new burden on the court system of many of these countries.16 Part VIII recognizes the experience that America has had with gambling laws and regulation and how America can provide good guidance and serve as a model to these Asian countries as they encounter similar problems.' 7 These problems include creating new gambling regulation authorities, crime, and lawsuits that will be brought to the courts.' 8 Part IX provides a discussion of ways to achieve the goals of gambling and casino laws while minimizing the consequences.19 This is done by looking at successful casino systems around Asia and Europe and how they have solved many different problems created by these laws.20 This Comment concludes that in making the decision to legalize or ban gambling, each country must be analyzed individually for whether it has the proper means to attain its goals. 11. See PROBLEM GAMBLING IN EUROPE 247 (Gerhard Meyer, Tobias Hayer, Mark Griffiths eds., 2009). 12. See On State Regulation of Gambling and Introduction of Amendments to Certain Legal Acts of the Russian Federation, 297 Ros. Gaz. 244. (Dec. 29, 2006), available at http://www.glin.gov/view.action?glinlD=197681 [hereinafter State Regulation of Gambling]. "Gambling zones are being created in four administrative districts: Altayskiy Kray, Primorskiy Kray, Kaliningrad Oblast, and jointly in Krasnodarskiy Kray and Rostov Oblast. In each of these four administrative districts, only one gambling zone may be created." K. Skopchevskiy, Russia Reshapes Its Gambling Industry, CIS LEGAL NEWSWIRE, June 15, 2008, at 6-7. 13. See infra Part VI. 14. See infra Part VI. 15. See infra Part VII. 16. See id. 17. See infra Part VIII. 18. See id. 19. See infra Part IX. 20. See infra Part IX. 2010] HOLD 'EM OR FOLD 'EM: GAMBLING LAWS IN ASIA 387 II. JAPAN "The Japanese are known in Las Vegas as prized customers, top rated quality players, and high rollers." 21 There are almost 20,000 gambling halls spread throughout Japan.22 This should be an odd statistic considering that gambling is illegal in Japan. 23 A. JapaneseLaw on Gambling Under Article 185 of the Japanese Penal Code, "a person who gambles shall be punished by a fine of not more than 500,000 yen24 or a petty fine; provided, however, that the same shall not apply to a person who bets a thing which is provided for momentary entertainment." 25 What counts as momentary entertainment is unclear. This lack of clarity allows Japan to liberally apply Article 185, and has significant consequences in the Pachinko Industry. 26 Under Article 186 of the Japanese Penal Code, the punishments are stricter. 27 Under article 186, "a person who habitually gambles shall be punished by imprisonment with work for not more than 3 years." 28 "A person who, for the purpose of profit, runs a place for gambling or organizes a group of habitual gamblers shall be punished by imprisonment with work for not less than 3 months but not more than 5 years." 29 Despite these strict statutes, gambling flourishes in Japan.30 B. Japan 's Pachinko Paradise Japan has a $250 billion per year pachinko business.3 ' Pachinko, a game that would be considered gambling in any other country, is 21. INTERNATIONAL CASINO LAW 3RD EDITION 518 (Anthony N. Cabot, William N. Thompson, Andrew Tottenham & Carl Braunlich eds., 1999) [hereinafter INTERNATIONAL CASINO LAW]. 22. See id. 23. See KEIHO, art. 185, para. 1. 24. As of January 24, 2010, the current exchange rate was around 90 yen to $1. See Exchange Rates Table for Japanese Yen, Japan, http://www.x-rates.com/d/JPY/table.html (last visited Jan. 24, 2010). 25. KEIHO, art. 185, para. 1. 26. See INTERNATIONAL CASINO LAW, supra note 21, at 518. See infra Part II. B. for a discussion of the Pachinko industry. 27. KEIHO, art. 186, para. 1, no. 1. 28. Id. 29. Id. at art. 186, para. 1, no. 2. 30. See generally INTERNATIONAL CASINO LAW, supra note 21, at 518. 31. See Wiseman, supra note 1. 388 PENN STATE INTERNATIONAL LAW REVIEW [Vol. 29:2 considered to be no more than adult entertainment in Japan.32 The Penal Code allows for this with an "entertainment" 33 loophole in Article 185. Pachinko is a Japanese gaming machine that is a combination of a slot machine and pinball. 34 The player purchases the balls and puts them in the machine, being able to control nothing but the speed of the balls that are put into the machine. 35 Most balls disappear, but a few find their way into specially designed places similar to pinball.36 Once this happens, an electronic slot machine then appears on the screen.37 If there is a match, new balls are won. 38 The Japanese are able to include pachinko under the Penal Code's "entertainment" provision because winners receive prizes rather than cash, and there is an alleged element of actual skill, as opposed to just chance.3 9 The balls are traded for a prize that the winner can select.4 0 Included among the prizes are packages containing pieces of gold or silver. Winners can then take their prizes to designated exchange shops, which are conveniently located near pachinko parlors. 4 1 At the exchange shops the prizes can be exchanged for cash.42 Therefore this is not gambling for money, but rather just being entrepreneurial with one's prize winnings. The current view in Japan is that Pachinko is not played by people who are seeking recreation, but by people who are trying to and think they can make a lot of money.4 3 If other types of casinos are legalized and built in Japan, there is a good chance that the Japanese will view them in similar ways. C. Japan'sLotteries Lotteries, another type of gambling, have existed in Japan as early as the 1600s.44 Lotteries have been banned and revived repeatedly throughout Japan's history. 4 5 A major reason that the Shogunate 46 32.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Performing Masculinity in Peri-Urban China: Duty, Family, Society
    The London School of Economics and Political Science Performing Masculinity in Peri-Urban China: Duty, Family, Society Magdalena Wong A thesis submitted to the Department of Anthropology of the London School of Economics for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, London December 2016 1 DECLARATION I certify that the thesis I have presented for examination for the MPhil/ PhD degree of the London School of Economics and Political Science is solely my own work other than where I have clearly indicated that it is the work of others (in which case the extent of any work carried out jointly by me and any other person is clearly identified in it). The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. Quotation from it is permitted, provided that full acknowledgement is made. This thesis may not be reproduced without my prior written consent. I warrant that this authorisation does not, to the best of my belief, infringe the rights of any third party. I declare that my thesis consists of 97,927 words. Statement of use of third party for editorial help I confirm that different sections of my thesis were copy edited by Tiffany Wong, Emma Holland and Eona Bell for conventions of language, spelling and grammar. 2 ABSTRACT This thesis examines how a hegemonic ideal that I refer to as the ‘able-responsible man' dominates the discourse and performance of masculinity in the city of Nanchong in Southwest China. This ideal, which is at the core of the modern folk theory of masculinity in Nanchong, centres on notions of men's ability (nengli) and responsibility (zeren).
    [Show full text]
  • Russia: CHRONOLOGY DECEMBER 1993 to FEBRUARY 1995
    Issue Papers, Extended Responses and Country Fact Sheets file:///C:/Documents and Settings/brendelt/Desktop/temp rir/CHRONO... Français Home Contact Us Help Search canada.gc.ca Issue Papers, Extended Responses and Country Fact Sheets Home Issue Paper RUSSIA CHRONOLOGY DECEMBER 1993 TO FEBRUARY 1995 July 1995 Disclaimer This document was prepared by the Research Directorate of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on the basis of publicly available information, analysis and comment. All sources are cited. This document is not, and does not purport to be, either exhaustive with regard to conditions in the country surveyed or conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. For further information on current developments, please contact the Research Directorate. Table of Contents GLOSSARY Political Organizations and Government Structures Political Leaders 1. INTRODUCTION 2. CHRONOLOGY 1993 1994 1995 3. APPENDICES TABLE 1: SEAT DISTRIBUTION IN THE STATE DUMA TABLE 2: REPUBLICS AND REGIONS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION MAP 1: RUSSIA 1 of 58 9/17/2013 9:13 AM Issue Papers, Extended Responses and Country Fact Sheets file:///C:/Documents and Settings/brendelt/Desktop/temp rir/CHRONO... MAP 2: THE NORTH CAUCASUS NOTES ON SELECTED SOURCES REFERENCES GLOSSARY Political Organizations and Government Structures [This glossary is included for easy reference to organizations which either appear more than once in the text of the chronology or which are known to have been formed in the period covered by the chronology. The list is not exhaustive.] All-Russia Democratic Alternative Party. Established in February 1995 by Grigorii Yavlinsky.( OMRI 15 Feb.
    [Show full text]
  • Chinese Culture and Casino Customer Service
    UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones Fall 2011 Chinese Culture and Casino Customer Service Qing Han University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Gaming and Casino Operations Management Commons, International and Intercultural Communication Commons, and the Strategic Management Policy Commons Repository Citation Han, Qing, "Chinese Culture and Casino Customer Service" (2011). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 1148. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/2523488 This Professional Paper is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Professional Paper in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Professional Paper has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Chinese Culture and Casino Customer Service by Qing Han Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Tourism Management Dalian University of Foreign Languages 2007 A professional paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science in Hotel Administration William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2011 Chair: Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Incentives in China's Reformation of the Sports Industry
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Keck Graduate Institute Claremont Colleges Scholarship @ Claremont CMC Senior Theses CMC Student Scholarship 2017 Tapping the Potential of Sports: Incentives in China’s Reformation of the Sports Industry Yu Fu Claremont McKenna College Recommended Citation Fu, Yu, "Tapping the Potential of Sports: Incentives in China’s Reformation of the Sports Industry" (2017). CMC Senior Theses. 1609. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1609 This Open Access Senior Thesis is brought to you by Scholarship@Claremont. It has been accepted for inclusion in this collection by an authorized administrator. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Claremont McKenna College Tapping the Potential of Sports: Incentives in China’s Reformation of the Sports Industry Submitted to Professor Minxin Pei by Yu Fu for Senior Thesis Spring 2017 April 24, 2017 2 Abstract Since the 2010s, China’s sports industry has undergone comprehensive reforms. This paper attempts to understand this change of direction from the central state’s perspective. By examining the dynamics of the basketball and soccer markets, it discovers that while the deregulation of basketball is a result of persistent bottom-up effort from the private sector, the recentralization of soccer is a state-led policy change. Notwithstanding the different nature and routes between these reforms, in both sectors, the state’s aim is to restore and strengthen its legitimacy within the society. Amidst China’s economic stagnation, the regime hopes to identify sectors that can drive sustainable growth, and to make adjustments to its bureaucracy as a way to respond to the society’s mounting demand for political modernization.
    [Show full text]
  • Problem Gambling: How Japan Could Actually Become the Next Las Vegas
    [Type here] PROBLEM GAMBLING: HOW JAPAN COULD ACTUALLY BECOME THE NEXT LAS VEGAS Jennifer Roberts and Ted Johnson INTRODUCTION Although with each passing day it appears less likely that integrated resorts with legalized gaming will become part of the Tokyo landscape in time for the city’s hosting of the summer Olympics in 20201, there is still substantial international interest in whether Japan will implement a regulatory system to oversee casino-style gaming. In 2001, Macau opened its doors for outside companies to conduct casino gaming operations as part of its modernized gaming regulatory system.2 At that time, it was believed that Macau would become the next Las Vegas.3 Just a few years after the new resorts opened, many operated by Las Vegas casino company powerhouses, Macau surpassed Las Vegas as the “gambling center” at one point.4 With tighter restrictions and crackdowns on corruption, Macau has since experienced declines in gaming revenue.5 When other countries across Asia have either contemplated or adopted gaming regulatory systems, it is often believed that they could become the 1 See 2020 Host City Election, OLYMPIC.ORG, http://www.olympic.org/2020-host- city-election (last visited Oct. 25, 2015). 2 Macau Gaming Summary, UNLV CTR. FOR GAMING RES., http://gaming. unlv.edu/ abstract/macau.html (last visited Oct. 25, 2015). 3 David Lung, Introduction: The Future of Macao’s Past, in THE CONSERVATION OF URBAN HERITAGE: MACAO VISION – INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE xiii, xiii (The Cultural Inst. of the Macao S. A. R. Gov’t: Studies, Research & Publ’ns Div. 2002), http://www.macauheritage.net/en/knowledge/vision/vision_xxi.pdf (noting, in 2002, of outside investment as possibly creating a “Las Vegas of the East”).
    [Show full text]
  • Gambling in Asia
    6th6th AnnualAnnual LegalLegal GamingGaming SummitSummit 2323--24th24th JanuaryJanuary 20122012 London,London, UKUK Solutions GAMBLINGGAMBLING ININ ASIAASIA anan insightinsight toto thethe AsianAsian marketmarket Business George M. Mangion GMM GAMBLINGGAMBLING ININ ASIAASIA Y O U Solutions R F O C U S D Business E T E R M I N S T H E O U T CO M E GMM GamblingGambling inin ChinaChina y The current laws in China prohibit all types of gambling both online and offline y The only forms of legal gambling in China are the two government lotteries: the Welfare Lottery and the Sports Solutions Lottery y The China Welfare Lottery Issuing Center (CWLC) is regulated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and was authorised by the State Council to issue lottery tickets since 1987 y The China Sports Lottery Administration Center (CSAC) Business is regulated by the General Administration of Sports and has been authorized by the State Council to issue lottery tickets since 1994 GMM GamblingGambling inin ChinaChina y Since 2007, China’s lottery market has rapidly expanded with sales exceeding RMB 100 billion and a continuous annual growth rate of 25% y In 2010, China’s lottery market has generated RMB 69.4 billion Solutions in profits, of which 75% was used to build new community sports centres and fund social welfare programs y Macau and Hong Kong are both considered Special Administrative Regions and even though still part of the PRC they both require passport visas to enter, and both have completely different laws and forms of government. Business y Officially, casino gambling is restricted to Macau, and betting on horse races is restricted to Hong Kong.
    [Show full text]
  • Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
    VCG.0001.0001.0001 Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation Report prepared pursuant to sub-section 24(3) of the Casino Control Act (1991) (Vic) — In respect of: An investigation conducted pursuant to sub-sections 24(1) — (2) of the Casino Control Act (1991) (Vic) into the conviction and sentencing of Crown employees for gambling related offences in the People's Republic of China, in June 2017. allir Victorian Commission for ORIA 11111; 9 !Rata. Gambling and Liquor Regulation cpVipirnonhird. VCG.0001.0001.0001_0002 -"4" 1•1111 f Adiirl, Victorian Commission for Level a, 12 Shelley Street, Rich rr n0 3121 Gambling and Liquor Regulation GPO Box 1949E1, Melbourne VIC 8001 T: 1800 182 457 vcgIrvic.govau 19 February 2021 The Hon Melissa Home MP Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation 1 Spring Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Dear Ms Home An investigation into the conviction and sentencing of Crown employees for gambling related offences in the People's Republic of China under section 24 of the Casino Control Act 1991 — report to the Minister. I refer to the above investigation which has been conducted by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (the Commission) under section 24(1) and (2) of the Casino Control Act 1991 (the Act). Section 24(3) of the Act states that the Commission may make a report to the Minister on the results of such an investigation if it thinks it desirable to do so. Accordingly, the Commission's report is submitted herewith. Yours sincerely f Ross Kennedy PSM Chair VCG.0001.0001.0001_0003
    [Show full text]
  • Azure Sky (SOUTEN) Emblazoned with Gold. the All-New Pachinko CR
    Review of Activities Looking Back with a “Key Person” Review of Activities up to the Second Quarter Azure sky (SOUTEN) Joint hosting of the “Universal emblazoned with gold. The Carnival” × “Sammy Festival” all-new Pachinko CR SOUTEN- Sammy Corporation and Universal Entertainment Cor- NO-KEN Tenki is here! poration teamed up to hold the largest ever “Pachinko Pachislot Fan Event ‘Universal Carnival × Sammy Pachinko CR SOUTEN-NO-KEN Tenki, the Festival 2016,’” for “fans and the media to get pumped latest sequel in the popular series up” for the major pachinko and pachislot titles and Pachinko CR SOUTEN-NO-KEN, was content owned by the two companies, on July 24 at launched in August 2016. Players can en- Tokyo Big Sight. The event featured a test play section joy this new SOUTEN-NO-KEN, which featuring many classic models that made history for features the newly equipped K.O.V. (Knock both of the companies and the latest models that are Out Vision) that spans the entire pachinko yet to be introduced in pachinko halls, events with a board with a never before seen action se- total of 100 guests including writers, manga artists and quence and Soryu Tenra gimmicks with voice actors, as well as pro wrestling and sales of origi- LCD light shows updated from the past nal goods and collaboration goods. Jointly holding the series. Pachinko CR SOUTEN-NO-KEN Tenki largest ever pachinko and pachislot “festival” produced ©Tetsuo Hara & Buronson/NSP 2001, Approved No.YDM-406 ©Sammy a synergy effect that attracted nearly over 16,500 fans KEY PERSON around the country, and the event ended as a huge success.
    [Show full text]
  • Will Digital RMB Violate Privacy? Latest Interpretation from the Head of China’S Digital Currency Project1
    Will Digital RMB Violate Privacy? Latest Interpretation from the Head of China’s Digital Currency Project1 MU Changchun CF40 Guest Member Director, the Digital Currency Research Institute of the People's Bank of China Abstract: According to the author, controllable anonymity is an important feature of digital RMB, which reflects a balance between public’s needs for reasonable privacy protection and the needs to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, tax evasion and other illegal and criminal activities. I. Anonymity: Protection of User Privacy is of the Highest Level among Existing Payment Instruments Mu Changchun pointed out that in the concept of controllable anonymity, anonymity means to meet the needs of reasonably anonymous payment and privacy protection. Current payment instruments, whether it's bank cards or Wechat Pay, Alipay, are all linked with bank accounts which require real name registration, and as a result they cannot satisfy anonymity needs. The loose coupling between digital RMB and bank accounts can technologically enable anonymity of small-amount transactions. To meet various payment needs, wallets are assigned with different transaction limits based on KYC levels. 1 This is a speech made, originally in Chinese, by the author on controllable anonymity of the digital RMB at the 2021 China Development Forum. An anonymous wallet corresponds to the lowest KYC level. A mobile phone number is all the information needed to open such an account. Of course, its daily balance and maximum transaction amount are capped at the lowest level to meet the needs of daily micropayments. To make transactions of a larger amount, the wallet will need to be upgraded.
    [Show full text]
  • Countries That Reject Legalized Casino Gambling
    Why They Say “No” (Casi “NO”) Countries that Reject Legalized Casino Gambling William N. Thompson Emeritus Professor of Public Administration University of Nevada Las Vegas A Presentation to the 8th European Conference on Gambling Studies and Policy Issues September 14-17, 2010 Vienna I. The Worldwide Spread of Casino Gaming 1986---77 casino countries 1996---109 Today---132 II. Exceptions to the Trends Bhutan, Brazil, Japan, Liechtenstein, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, and Norway Left off the list are (1) Islamic nations and (2) enclave states and venues in control of other jurisdictions -- Hong Kong, San Marino, Andorra, Samoa and Guam (3) smaller island countries— Barbados, The Caymans, [southern] Cyprus (4) places that have tolerated open casinos, or had them on an “off and on” basis— Bolivia, Guatemala, Venezuela, Sri Lanka and Turkey III. The Veto Model in the U.S.A. The Last Resort: Success and Failure in Campaigns for Casinos, (John Dombrink and William N. Thompson, University of Nevada Press, 1990). Major “veto” factors influencing American casino campaign outcomes (1) the economic conditions (2) state experience with gambling (3) the position of political and business elites, and other gaming interests (4) campaign sponsorship (5) whether the dominant issue in a campaign was economics or crime and social problems For successful campaigns (e.g. Atlantic City, 1976), all major factors had to be supportive of casinos. IV. The Veto Modified with Irish Experience—Seven Factors 1. Personality and the “All In” Spirit” A spirit which won independence may not be desirable at gaming tables, indeed may be tied to addictive behaviors.
    [Show full text]
  • Those Restless Little Boats on the Uneasiness of Japanese Power-Boat Gamblers
    Course No. 3507/3508 Contemporary Japanese Culture and Society Lecture No. 15 Gambling ギャンブル・賭博 GAMBLING … a national obession. Gambling fascinates, because it is a dramatized model of life. As people make their way through life, they have to make countless decisions, big and small, life-changing and trivial. In gambling, those decisions are reduced to a single type – an attempt to predict the outcome of an event. Real-life decisions often have no clear outcome; few that can clearly be called right or wrong, many that fall in the grey zone where the outcome is unclear, unimportant, or unknown. Gambling decisions have a clear outcome in success or failure: it is a black and white world where the grey of everyday life is left behind. As a simplified and dramatized model of life, gambling fascinates the social scientist as well as the gambler himself. Can the decisions made by the gambler offer us a short-cut to understanding the character of the individual, and perhaps even the collective? Gambling by its nature generates concrete, quantitative data. Do people reveal their inner character through their gambling behavior, or are they different people when gambling? In this paper I will consider these issues in relation to gambling on powerboat races (kyōtei) in Japan. Part 1: Institutional framework Gambling is supposed to be illegal in Japan, under article 23 of the Penal Code, which prescribes up to three years with hard labor for any “habitual gambler,” and three months to five years with hard labor for anyone running a gambling establishment. Gambling is unambiguously defined as both immoral and illegal.
    [Show full text]
  • Japanese Publicly Managed Gaming (Sports Gambling) and Local Government
    Papers on the Local Governance System and its Implementation in Selected Fields in Japan No.16 Japanese Publicly Managed Gaming (Sports Gambling) and Local Government Yoshinori ISHIKAWA Executive director, JKA Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) Institute for Comparative Studies in Local Governance (COSLOG) National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) Except where permitted by the Copyright Law for “personal use” or “quotation” purposes, no part of this booklet may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission. Any quotation from this booklet requires indication of the source. Contact Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) (The International Information Division) Sogo Hanzomon Building 1-7 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083 Japan TEL: 03-5213-1724 FAX: 03-5213-1742 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.clair.or.jp/ Institute for Comparative Studies in Local Governance (COSLOG) National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) 7-22-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8677 Japan TEL: 03-6439-6333 FAX: 03-6439-6010 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www3.grips.ac.jp/~coslog/ Foreword The Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) and the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) have been working since FY 2005 on a “Project on the overseas dissemination of information on the local governance system of Japan and its operation”. On the basis of the recognition that the dissemination to overseas countries of information on the Japanese local governance system and its operation was insufficient, the objective of this project was defined as the pursuit of comparative studies on local governance by means of compiling in foreign languages materials on the Japanese local governance system and its implementation as well as by accumulating literature and reference materials on local governance in Japan and foreign countries.
    [Show full text]