No bluff, just poker

Discussions about whether or not to add poker to the list of games to be allowed in Integrated Resorts in Japan have emerged as a question during the deliberations of the Japanese Cabinet Office currently working on a second casino bill, several media reported during the weekend.
The discussions come ahead of plans to submit the attendant IR bill for voting in an extraordinary session in the Diet, the upper house of Japan’s Parliament, in the coming fall.
According to the draft of the IR regulations issued on July 31 by a panel of experts acting on behalf of the Japanese government, the types of games to be allowed in future Integrated Resorts in Japan comprise games in which outcomes depend essentially on chance, The Mainichi reported.
Games such as roulette, blackjack, and baccarat would comply with the suggested recommendations, thus, excluding poker and other strategy games such as mah-jong and shogi, which is known as Japanese chess.
Poker lobbyists argue the game’s global popularity could help promote the industry in Japan, both in its gaming and non-gaming segments.
According to The Mainichi, some members of the government panel are also insisting that poker should be considered an exception to the regulations because it can attract many customers to IRs.
The expert panel also intends to recommend that the government bans sports betting, including wagering on horses and bicycle races.