Japan Moves Closer to Formal Ban on Online Casino Operations
Since May, eight political parties and parliamentary groups have been collaborating to address gaps in Japan's regulation of unlicensed online gaming. While current laws deem unlicensed online gambling illegal, enforcement has varied and lacked clarity, especially when it comes to digital platforms. The updated legislation intends to rectify this by imposing clear nationwide guidelines. It would not only ban operators from launching online casinos but also restrict any promotional efforts, including advertisements or links directing users to such services. Social media platforms and other online channels would be required to remove content that facilitates access to these sites.
Despite the shift, many Japanese players are likely to continue playing offshore at reputable internationally licenced online casinos, which remain accessible through international domains and VPN services. According to iGaming writer Ryan Davis many of these platforms offer players access to thousands of games, fast payouts, flexible transaction methods, safe experiences that are regulated by established global gambling bodies, and provide exciting bonuses like welcome rewards, cashback offers, and free spins.
For users seeking more freedom, privacy, and variety, offshore sites continue to provide a polished and user-centric experience, especially as domestic options remain restricted or unclear. As Japan moves to tighten domestic control, the continued appeal and accessibility of regulated offshore casinos underscores the limits of national policy in a globally connected gaming world. Online Gambling Already Illegal, Yet Widely Accessed
Under existing statutes, participation in unregulated online casino platforms is a criminal offense in Japan, punishable by fines of up to ¥500,000 and potentially up to three years in prison for repeated offences. However, the reality is that many Japanese residents continue to access offshore casino services beyond the reach of domestic regulation. A National Police Agency survey conducted in March revealed that around 3.37 million people in Japan have frequented these online casino sites, with spending estimated at ¥1.24 trillion (around $8.7 billion) annually. These figures highlight a significant disconnect between legal restrictions and user behavior. Growing Public Conversations Within Japan
A civic group in Tokyo has seen a sharp rise in inquiries related to digital gaming behavior, escalating from eight consultations in 2019 to ninety-one in 2024. This growth suggests that many people are uncertain about what is permitted and where the boundaries lie under current law. The surge in public interest has propelled lawmakers to elevate the issue within this year's parliamentary agenda, accelerating action on the proposed. Shaping Japan's Digital Future Through Policy
As Japan moves to formalize its stance on online casinos, this legislation also reflects a broader shift in how the country approaches digital infrastructure and personal responsibility in entertainment spaces. With increasing demand for clear boundaries in rapidly growing sectors such as streaming , digital finance, and interactive media, Japan's lawmakers are signaling that digital progress must go hand-in-hand with accountability.
This is more about ensuring that new technologies develop within frameworks that reflect national values rather than restrictions. In the same way Japan has taken a measured approach to cryptocurrency regulations, social media laws, and tech sector transparency, this bill continues that pattern. The emphasis remains on maintaining control over services that operate within national borders and ensuring those services align with legal standards.
By setting out these guidelines now, Japan is giving businesses, tech developers, and content platforms the direction they need to make responsible decisions. It's an approach focused not on blocking progress but guiding it, ensuring that digital growth benefits users and businesses while respecting the rules of the system. Next Steps and Domestic Focus
Now under consideration by the upper chamber, the House of Councillors is expected to fast-track the bill in order to finalize changes before the session ends later this month. If enacted, Japan would reinforce its legal framework for digital gaming by focusing squarely on domestic operations and operators. Instead of targeting foreign-based platforms directly, the emphasis is on ensuring that those operating, advertising, or facilitating online casino services within Japan's jurisdiction are fully aligned with national regulations.
This legislative momentum reveals Japan's deeper intention: to clarify and reinforce how digital game operations are managed internally, laying the groundwork for a more coherent and controlled environment in the country's fast-developing online landscape.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Today
2 hours ago
- Japan Today
Texas Republicans approve Trump-backed congressional map to protect party's majority
State Representative Matt Morgan (R-TX) holds a map of the new proposed congressional districts in Texas, during a legislative session as Democratic lawmakers, who left the state to deny Republicans the opportunity to redraw the state's 38 congressional districts, begin returning to the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, U.S. August 20, 2025. REUTERS/Sergio Flores By Joseph Ax and Brad Brooks Texas legislators on Wednesday passed a new state congressional map drawn at the behest of President Donald Trump to flip five Democratic-held U.S. House seats in next year's midterm elections, after dozens of Democratic lawmakers ended a two-week walkout that had temporarily blocked passage. Republican legislators, who have dominated Texas politics for over two decades, have undertaken a rare mid-decade redistricting to help Trump improve their party's odds of preserving its narrow U.S. House of Representatives majority amid political headwinds. The map, which will have to be reconciled with the state Senate's version, has triggered a national redistricting war, with governors of both parties threatening to initiate similar efforts in other states. Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom is advancing an effort to redraw his state's map to flip five Republican seats. Democratic-controlled California is the nation's most populous state while Republican-led Texas is the second most populous. The Texas map would shift conservative voters into districts currently held by Democrats and combine some districts that Democrats hold. Other Republican states -- including Ohio, Florida, Indiana and Missouri -- are moving forward with or considering their own redistricting efforts, as are Democratic states such as Maryland and Illinois. Redistricting typically occurs every 10 years after the U.S. Census to account for population changes, and mid-decade redistricting has historically been unusual. Whenever the maps are drawn, tn many states,lawmakers manipulate the lines to favor their party over the opposition, a practice known as gerrymandering. Texas Democrats on Wednesday raised multiple objections to and questions about the measure. Representative John Bucy, a Democrat, said from the House floor before passage of the bill that the new maps were clearly intended to dilute the voting power of Black, Latino and Asian voters, and that his Republican colleagues bending to the will of Trump was deeply worrying. "This is not democracy, this is authoritarianism in real time," Bucy said. "This is Donald Trump's map. It clearly and deliberately manufactures five more Republican seats in Congress because Trump himself knows the voters are rejecting his agenda." Republicans argued the map was created to improve political performance and would increase majority Hispanic districts. Bucy was among the Democrats who fled the state earlier this month to deny the Texas House a quorum. In response, Republicans undertook extraordinary measures to try to force the Democrats home, including filing lawsuits to remove them from office and issuing arrest warrants. The walkout ended when Democrats voluntarily returned on Monday, saying they had accomplished their goals of blocking a vote during a first special legislative session and persuading Democrats in other states to take retaliatory steps. Republican House leadership assigned state law enforcement officers to monitor Democrats to ensure they would not leave the state again. One Democratic representative, Nicole Collier, slept in the Capitol building on Monday night rather than accept a police escort. Republicans, including Trump, have openly acknowledged that the new map is aimed at increasing their political power. The party currently controls 25 of the state's 38 districts under a Republican-drawn map that was passed four years ago. Democrats and civil rights groups have said the new map dilutes the voting power of racial minorities in violation of federal law and have vowed to sue. Nationally, Republicans captured the 435-seat U.S. House in 2024 by only three seats. The party of the president historically loses House seats in the first midterm election, and Trump's approval ratings have sagged since he took office in January. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
The Mainichi
2 hours ago
- The Mainichi
'It's meaningful to do what Haneda can't': New president of Narita Airport reveals plans
NARITA, Chiba -- The newly appointed president of Narita International Airport Corp. (NAA) recently shared insights on the airport's unique strengths, which he pointed out Tokyo's Haneda Airport does not have. Naoki Fujii, 64, a former vice-minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, took office as the president of NAA in June. Regarding the functional enhancement of Narita Airport, located in Chiba Prefecture east of Tokyo, by adding a new runway and extending another, he stated, "It's meaningful to do what Haneda can't. We will leverage Narita's strengths." In his comments to various media outlets, he also expressed his intention to focus on diversifying the international flight network and expanding low-cost carrier (LCC) flights. Narita Airport aims to begin operating the newly added and expanded runways in March 2029, increasing its annual takeoff and landing capacity from the current 300,000 to 500,000. Fujii mentioned using the additional 200,000 slots to "expand the network to various countries and regions, making it possible to travel directly to many places from Narita." He emphasized the advantage of Narita's dedicated terminal for LCCs, stating, "We want to increase the number of people who choose to fly from Narita because of the lower fares," showing enthusiasm for the expansion of LCCs. He also mentioned strengthening the acceptance of business jets. Regarding relations with surrounding municipalities, Fujii acknowledged, "There is an unfortunate history, and a tense relationship continued." However, after his appointment, he noted that local government officials expressed "a very strong desire to lead functional enhancement to local development," and he stated that NAA would contribute more to the local economy and in other aspects. Born in the Chiba Prefecture city of Matsudo, Fujii spent his early years there until fifth grade. He remarked, "Many people think Narita Airport is far and inconvenient. I want to challenge that notion." Fujii commutes by train every morning, taking one hour and 40 minutes from Tokyo. (Japanese original by Tsukimi Goda, Narita Bureau)
Japan Today
3 hours ago
- Japan Today
Number of foreign visitors to Japan hits record 3.4 million in July
The number of foreign visitors to Japan in July rose 4.4 percent from a year earlier to 3.4 million, a record for the month, government estimates showed Wednesday, as other nations were in their school holiday season. Recently, Japan has become a major travel destination on the back of the popularity of its culture, such as anime, and the yen's depreciation. By country and region, China topped the list with 974,500 visitors, up 25.5 percent from the previous year, followed by South Korea with 678,600, a 10.4 percent decrease, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Visitors from Taiwan ranked third, gaining 5.7 percent to 604,200, a monthly record, due largely to increased flights connecting Japan and the territory. The organization said 15 markets, including the United States, France and Indonesia, set new visitor records for July. On a negative note, travel demand from Hong Kong and South Korea was hit by a rumor on social media that Japan would suffer a devastating natural disaster in July, it said. Speculation of an earthquake -- specifically on July 5 -- spread after a prediction in "The Future I Saw," a manga by Japanese artist Ryo Tatsuki, even prompting the suspension of some regular flights between Japan and Hong Kong. The organization said in a statement that it will pursue the promotion of strategic inbound tourism while closely analyzing market trends. In the three-year plan through fiscal 2025, the government aims to boost travel spending per person to 200,000 yen ($1,355) and raise the average overnight stay in regional areas to two nights, compared with fiscal 2019 levels of 159,000 yen and 1.4 nights. © KYODO
