In Japan and the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reportedly revealed the names of the five people it would like to constitute the nation’s inaugural Casino Management Board.

According to a story from GGRAsia citing an earlier report from the local Jiji Press news service, the Casino Management Board is set to serve as the official regulator for the Asian nation’s nascent casino market and will additionally be tasked with formulating a range of measures to counter gambling addictions.

Autonomous authority:

GGRAsia reported that the new regulator is due to operate independent of the Cabinet Office but will have assistance from approximately 100 civil servants to conduct a variety of associated background, probity and security checks. It also detailed that the nominated figures could take up their five-year terms as soon as January so long as legislators give their consent before the current session of the bicameral National Diet expires on December 9.

Celebrated contenders:

The former Legal Compliance Inspector General for Japan’s Ministry of Defense, Michio Kitamura, has reportedly been nominated to lead the Casino Management Board with assistance from fellow candidate Hiroyuki Ujikane, who was previously in charge of the Nagoya Regional Taxation Bureau branch of the county’s National Tax Agency.

The remaining Casino Management Board nominees encompass psychiatrist Michiko Watari alongside Keio University professor Noriko Endo and the former Superintendent General for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Tateshi Higuchi.

Pending plans:

Although most gambling is currently illegal in Japan, the coalition government of Prime Minister Abe passed legislation in July of last year that is to see the nation of some 126 million people offer up a trio of casino licenses. In order to be selected as a host for one of these coming facilities, which are locally known as integrated casino resorts, communities are being required to partner with an experienced operator before submitting their final plans to a panel of selectors in Tokyo.

Assorted applicants:

The Japan Tourism Agency is due to oversee this selection process while additionally explaining that the government is expected to have released the final version of its associated criteria by the end of March. It is widely thought that up to ten Japanese communities are hoping to win the right to host one of the coming $15 billion integrated casino resorts with the giant cities of Osaka and Yokohama at the head of this pack.