{"id":1545,"date":"2023-05-11T17:58:58","date_gmt":"2023-05-11T13:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leylaj.com\/en\/?p=1545"},"modified":"2025-08-19T11:31:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T08:01:20","slug":"online-gambling-in-japan-many-dont-know-its-against-the-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leylaj.com\/en\/1545\/","title":{"rendered":"Online gambling in Japan: many don\u2019t know it\u2019s against the law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Online gambling is becoming more popular among Japanese people, who are tempted by online promotions and promises from foreign websites that they can escape legal consequences for their bets. Online betting is illegal in Japan, but not everyone knows that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sites\u2019 assertions are contested by Japanese authorities, but they admit the challenges of obtaining enough proof in such situations. Many of the bettors, indeed, do not know that they are breaking Japanese law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This situation has led some experts to worry that gambling addictions could rise in Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connected research was done by The Asahi Shimbun and the Japanese branch of SimilarWeb, an Israeli company that provides digital analysis support, on how many Japanese people were accessing foreign online gambling sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The casino site that attracted the most visitors was Vera & John. Its monthly visits from Japan soared 119 times from 648,000 in December 2018 to 77.51 million in January 2020, according to the study.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"In
In July 2018, Japanese lawmakers approved a bill that officially allows casinos in the country. Three casinos in the form of integrated resorts (IRs) will be established in different locations. The IRs will come with restrictions and Japanese locals will only be able to visit the casinos three times per week, or ten times a month. Japanese visitors will also be charged a 6,000 yen entrance fee to help discourage addiction. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The number dropped to 19.88 million in August 2020, but it bounced back to 49.38 million in November.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The site says that it obtained a license to operate in Curacao, an island in the Caribbean Sea that belongs to the Netherlands. It also invites Japanese players, emphasizing that it \u201coffers fair and just games everyone can enjoy safely and securely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worry that you may be arrested for gambling? Never worry about it!<\/p>the Vera & John site says in Japanese – Leylaj Magazine<\/a><\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is said that most online gambling site owners have gotten official licenses in countries where gambling is allowed. Many of them also show messages in Japanese to lure Japanese users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two main types of gambling sites: online casinos and sports betting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among online sports betting services, bet365 got the most views from the Japanese, jumping from 860,000 in December 2018 to a peak of 13.2 million in July 2020, based on the Asahi-SimilarWeb study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bet365\u2019s site says its license comes from Malta in southern Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The growing popularity of online gambling goes along with the increasing use of cryptocurrencies. Online gambling ads on social media have also become more common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign customers can register on online betting sites easily; they just need to provide their names, addresses, bank account numbers, and other details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Payments can be made with credit cards or virtual currency, but winnings are supposed to be transferred via Japanese bank accounts and other methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most kinds of gambling are banned in Japan. People who gamble on foreign-based sites while in Japan are violating criminal law, police say.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Gambling
Gambling in Japan has been strictly banned and regulated since Chapter 23 of the Criminal Code, also known as Law No.45 of the Japan Penal Code, explicitly prohibited organized wagering or private sales of lottery tickets \u2013 with hefty fines in Yen and punishment of imprisonment as the deterrent. Before they can do that, Japan will have to lift its ban on gambling, which is currently illegal in most forms. For legal purposes, pachinko machines<\/a><\/strong> are technically considered \u201cgaming.\u201d.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

They said some illegal gamblers have been nabbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

We will round up as many users as possible,<\/p>\nA National Police Agency official said.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

But it is hard for investigators to get the permission of server managers and other parties to gather evidence from places in countries and regions where gambling is allowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to an inquiry by The Asahi Shimbun, Vera & John affirmed that it \u201coperates in accordance with the license, so betting in cash with us will not pose any problems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The operators of bet365 did not respond to inquiries<\/em>, according to the original publisher: The Asahi Shimbun<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gambling addiction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A man in his 20s in the Kinki region began gambling online a few years ago to earn extra money. He found Vera & John when his monthly income was 150,000 yen ($1,422).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

I knew it was illegal, but I believed I would never be arrested,<\/p>\nHe said.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

On one day, he bet 10,000 yen for one round and won about 300,000 yen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But now, he has lost more than 2 million yen in total, so he is much more careful about gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce I won, my financial sense became paralyzed,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s terrifying that I can gamble so easily there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A man in his 50s from Chiba Prefecture discovered that his oldest son, who went to a college in the Kanto region six years ago, had become hooked on online gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n