Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may push a casino bill after April’s municipal elections.

Japan could be home for some worldwide’s biggest gambling enterprises, or it could not allow any casino gambling at all in the near future.

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 finding a casino bill passed.

According to some reports, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is about to wait until after the April elections before deciding whether or perhaps not to throw his political muscle behind getting such legislation through the legislature that is japanese.

Abe Wants to Convince Coalition with Strong Municipal Election Outcomes

Abe is a proponent that is big of video gaming, as could be the majority of his party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). But, there have still been questions regarding the amount of public help there is behind the proposals, and Abe could be trying to the municipal elections to prove that the general public is behind their agenda.

That may help make an impression on more members of Komeito, the Buddhist party that forms section of Abe’s ruling coalition. Members of Komeito have actually come out against permitting casinos, expressing concerns over the risk of increased gambling addiction along with other social issues.

Even if the casino legislation is proposed, it likely ensures that just a promotion bill is seen into the session that is current of Japanese Diet (or parliament). The many delays for the casino bill will mean it’s unlikely any casinos might be approved and built by 2020, the initial target date that would have had the proposed integrated resorts up and running with time for the Tokyo Olympics.

If casinos are approved, it would appear that Osaka and Yokohama is the most cities that are likely 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 many individuals across the world to Japan, and, along with an integrated resort, all of Osaka really wants to have something for them,’ said Governor Ichiro Matsui.

Setbacks Likely, But Casino Firms Still Show Interest

But at this point, a casino in 2020 would only be possible if everything ran smoothly, and there will probably be hurdles even though 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 procedure might need to be disbanded if a casino bill can not be approved through the very first session of the dietary plan, that ought to end on June 24.

‘One for the issues is that it is instead hard to keep hold of main government officers at the Cabinet workplace who are focusing on the IR [Integrated Resort] Bill…as there’s absolutely no basis for them to stay without the appropriate law being passed,’ a Japanese source told GGRAsia.

Whatever the setbacks, however, there are nevertheless many major casino companies that would like to operate a casino in Japan. Sheldon Adelson has stated that the Las Vegas Sands would spend ‘whatever it takes’ to open a casino in the nation, while MGM Resorts International recently revealed an intend to build a large resort in Osaka.

Amaya Moves Towards Asia in Latest Branding Push

PokerStars has signed Japanese model Yuiko Matsukawa as a brand ambassador included in its reach into the Asian poker market. (Image: italiapokerclub.com)

In its latest international move, Amaya is looking to Asia to expand its branding across the globe.

When Amaya took over the Rational Group last 12 months, and with it the powerful PokerStars brand, it was clear that the video gaming operator would definitely pursue a strategy of aggressive growth for its poker site.

After all, Amaya had paid $4.9 billion in order to buy PokerStars (and Full Tilt), and to make that worthwhile, the company required to get ways to increase income. Which includes 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 looking for new opportunities across the world, it’s clear that the operator’s focus has been on one area that is relatively untapped Asia.

While gambling culture is unquestionably ubiquitous throughout the region, poker is a relatively new game in many Asian countries, meaning there’s still a good amount of room to grow it from the company viewpoint. That growth means lot of new revenue, and has now become clear that Amaya wants PokerStars to capture as much of that money possible.

Asian Signings and Sponsorships

Amaya itself seems to wish to mention Asia whenever possible.

The company outlined several initiatives and signings for PokerStars, including the recent Ninth Anniversary edition of its Sunday Million tournament and the start of EPT Malta in a press release. But the focus had been surely on Asia, with Amaya specifically talking about ‘initiatives undertaken by…Rational Group to grow the game of poker across the globe, including in the appearing poker market of Asia.’

In the event that you’ve been following along with some of PokerStars’ current tasks, you might already be familiar with some of the actions it’s been taking to capture a bigger share of the market that is asian. On Tuesday, PokerStars.net officially signed 24-year-old model that is japanese actress Yuiko Matsukawa to act as being a celebrity brand ambassador.

While it is likely that she’s going to be promoting the organization most greatly in Japan it self, Matsukawa was already utilized in other Asian markets: recently, she played in the Macau Poker Cup at the PokerStars LIVE venue in the Chinese enclave, among the 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 roster that is japanese 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 compared to Asia’s Aditya Agarwal, are notable, in that they come at time when PokerStars has reducing the quantity of sponsored pros on its roster in other parts worldwide.

Sponsoring Nanjing Millions

That’s not PokerStars’ only involvement with the APPT, either. The company recently announced that PokerStars.net will be a primary sponsor of the Nanjing Millions, a freeslotsnodownload-ca.com tournament that is new to help offer the continued development of poker in China.

While there have previously been major poker tournaments in Beijing, PokerStars plus the APPT are hoping that this tournament, which will be held by the Beijing celebrity Poker Club, is able to draw players from across the country because of its centralized location.

The PokerStars press launch also talked about areas by which the company hopes to develop, particularly in the emerging world of online poker streams.

With that in mind, PokerStars recently announced the launch of its official Twitch channel, that will host content from PokerStars pros. The company additionally signed pro poker player Jason Somerville, who has continued his popular Run it Up streams on Twitch this month beneath the PokerStars banner.

Adam Meyer ‘Sports Consultant to the Stars’ Charged With Extortion, Claims Insanity

‘I’m the best and folks are beginning to know,’ claims an Adam Meyer poster that is motivational. He’s also pleading insanity in his forthcoming test for extortion and racketeering. (Image: bodybuilding.com)

Adam Meyer, the self-proclaimed ‘Sports Consultant to the Stars,’ who was simply arrested in December and charged with wire fraud, extortion, racketeering and brandishing a firearm, is pleading insanity. In an effort to hammer the idea house, he’s also claiming he is a key federal government agent.

Meyer, the CEO of betting consultancy site Real Money Sports, which charged clients as much as $250,000 for activities advice that is betting made regular TV and radio appearances being a handicapper.

A tireless self-promoter, 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. Based on his website AdamWins.com, ‘Adam is box office money, therefore the hitters that are heavy it. His client list reads like the front page of range.’

But, according towards 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 began tips that are buying Meyer back in 2007.

The handicapper initially referred Sadoff up to a group of bookmakers with whom he falsely advertised he had 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 place the kibosh on his gambling habits, Meyer told him his life is at risk because Meyer owed money up to a bookie that is fictional called Kent Wong.

Meyer explained to Sadoff that Wong thought that, because the two men were business lovers, Sadoff ended up being 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 cash. Meyer and ‘an associate’ flew to Wisconsin and threatened Sadoff with a weapon, until he consented to supply a further $9.8 million.

Hedging his wagers

Meyer is using the ‘public authority’ defense, claiming that his crimes were committed at the behest for the US government and police agencies for whom he had been an agent that is undercover. The authorities that are relevant this.

According to documents obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he also claims that he had been employed by Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and an NCAA Division 1 soccer group investigating illegal betting operations.

And in the event that fails, he’s also pleading insanity, simply to hedge his bets.

Meyer, who is now out of jail having published a $1 million bail relationship many thanks to the Green Bay Packers, is currently confined to a drug rehabilitation center in their indigenous Florida.