Japan Foregoes Controversial Tax on Casino Winnings

Akira Amari, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Research Commission on Tax System, has confirmed that the proposed tax on the winnings of overseas gamblers at Japan’s future IRs will not be imposed.

“It would be meaningless if no one comes to the IRs after building them,” Amari said. He added Japan’s casino taxation policies must be “on par with international standards.”

The proposal to tax the casino winnings of foreign visitors created uneasiness in the industry from the first time it was brought to public attention in June 2018 during the deliberations over the IR Implementation Bill.

Japan residents will still face a tax on their casino winnings, although it’s not clear how serious an effort will be made by the government to track winnings and to enforce this policy.