One major concern the new gambling law in Japan has brought about is the possible involvement of the Yakuza groups in Japan. Yakuza is a version of Italian mafias or the organized criminal organization in Japan. They are considered as the most sophisticated and wealthiest criminal organizations.
These groups are known to have involvement in shady businesses such as drugs, loan sharking, protection money and the sex industry.
The Yakuza are regarded as semi-legitimate organizations as they help the Japanese residents during disaster reliefs, provides protection to businesses and they also help the police in reducing the crime in their areas of operation.
However, it does not erase the fact that their use of force and violence, as well as the dark side of their business, will always be an issue against them.
Preventive Measures
According to the recommendations issued by the International Gaming Institute of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Japanese government should undertake measures to keep this criminal group out from the casino operations.
Regulate Resort Owners
They also recommend for Japan to strictly investigate the personal and financial background of the resort owners and executives involved in the creation of casinos in order to ensure that members of the yakuza and their affiliates will be excluded.
This should be done in order to attract investors without fear of the ramifications and dangers of organized crimes which the yakuza involvement will bring.
Based on an interview, a senior member of a yakuza group claims that their leaders are already planning to be involved in the construction of the casinos, provide loans to gamblers and even infiltrate the casinos to work as dealers to ensure that certain gamblers won.