The Kyodo News agency has reported today that the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party is encouraging the legalisation of Casinos. Japan wants to double the amount of tourists they see arriving on their shores by 2010. It is believed that casinos will help in the job of bringing in those holiday-makers.

Japan already has an estimated 200,000 illegally run underground casino bars in operation generating around $10Billion a year. Although there are strict gaming laws in Japan, some betting outlets are currently legal. Wagering on races and a national lottery have been legal since the late 1940s and, more recently, sports betting was introduced in 1998.