But Japan doesn't legally allow gaming, so that the machines, using balls instead of coins, pay their winners in merchandise. But a frequent player, not interested in hundreds of small gifts, has an option to trade his gifts into cash, at a nearby shop - often owned by the pachinko parlor operator. This practice has been going on in almost every community in Japan, in thousands of parlors for many decades. So, I question the moral concern about casino gaming, that would attract substantial foreign tourism.

It is not inconceivable, that Japan could pass the casino revenues of Macau, if enough of the major cities were allowed to vote on allowing a mega casino, like the ones Sheldon Adelson has built in Las Vegas, Singapore or Macau, and is prepared to do the same, along with other major gaming operators, in Japan.

I can understand the population's concern about compulsive gambling, but where is that concern when talking about compulsive pachinko players? It seems that the proposed casino legislation, severely restricts the size of a resort casino, and even contemplates limiting the frequency of resident participation.