日本議會批准賭場合法化

Japan's parliament has passed a long-awaited law to legalise casinos.

千呼萬喚始出來，日本議會終於通過了賭場合法化決議。

The move paves the way for casino resort developments that also include hotels and shopping centres.

這一舉措爲包括酒店、購物中心在內的賭場度假村行業發展奠定了基礎。

International gaming firms including Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts and Caesars have expressed an interest in running businesses in Japan.

國際各大博彩公司如永利、米高梅和凱撒等賭場度假村都表示有興趣在日本發展業務。

Casino operators are keen to find new markets, especially those in close proximity to China.

各大賭場經營者們躍躍欲試，尤其希望在中國周邊開發新市場。

Politicians in Japan's lower house approved the bill in the early hours of Thursday. It had already been passed in the upper house.

經上議院批准後，日本下議院在上週四早些時候也通過了賭場合法化法案。

The move was backed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who believes the changes will stimulate tourism and help the country's flagging economy.

這一舉措得到了安倍首相的支持，以期推動日本旅遊業，刺激本國低迷的經濟。

But with legislation still needed on how to regulate the sector, casinos are not expected to open for at least another six years.

然而，由於賭場監管的法案尚未出臺，至少六年內日本將不會開設任何賭場。

An estimate by Daiwa Research Institute suggests that just three casinos in Japan could earn annual profits of $10bn.

據大和研究所估計，日本僅三家賭場的年利潤總和就能達到100億美元。

But it added that Japan would also have to differentiate itself to attract gamblers in Asia who already can choose to visit casinos in Singapore, Macau, the Philippines, and South Korea.

該研究所同時指出，日本必須想辦法另闢蹊徑才能吸引往返於新加坡、澳門、菲律賓、韓國賭場的亞洲賭客們。

Politicians have clashed over plans to legalise casinos in Japan for the past 15 years, with strong opposition based largely around fears of gambling addiction and other social fall-out such as organised crime.

在過去15年中，日本政客們一直在賭場合法化問題上爭論不休。反對派強烈抗議，他們害怕法案一通過，社會將出現賭博成癮、集團犯罪等歪風邪氣。

And pro-casino campaigners have had to try and allay fears about the negative impact of casinos, promising measures to combat addiction and money laundering.

而支持派一直努力試圖緩解民衆對賭場負面影響的恐懼，承諾將採取措施抑制賭博成癮、洗錢等非法勾當。

An opinion poll by public broadcaster NHK found 44% of those questioned opposed the plans, with just 12% supporting it and 34% of respondents undecided.

在日本大衆傳播機構日本放送協會（NHK）發起的民意調查中，44%的受訪人反對這些計劃，34%猶豫不決，支持人數僅佔12%。

Casinos are currently illegal in Japan, though gambling on horse, boat and bicycle races is allowed through government-backed bookmakers.

目前，賭場在日本仍是非法場所，儘管市面上仍有馬賽、船賽、自行車賽的博彩項目，但都是由政府支持的博彩商所經營。

The most common form of gambling in Japan is Pachinko, the country's take on pinball. Played in parlours across Japanese towns and cities, the game is tolerated despite its legal status remaining vague.

彈球盤是日本最常見的賭博形式。這種彈球遊戲在日本十分流行，全國各個縣市的民衆都喜歡在彈球房玩這種遊戲，儘管它的合法地位仍然模糊不清。