Japan is stepping up its fight against illegal online gambling by urging eight jurisdictions to block access to casino sites targeting Japanese users. The move follows a wave of high-profile arrests involving celebrities and athletes, and mounting concerns over the massive scale of the country’s illicit online betting market.
The request, made via diplomatic channels, targets operators licensed in Curacao, Canada, Malta, Gibraltar, and several other regions. Although these sites are legal elsewhere, Japanese law prohibits residents from gambling on foreign platforms.
New Legislation Targets Promotion and Access
In a key legislative step, Japan’s parliament passed a bill banning the operation, promotion, and advertisement of online casinos. The law explicitly outlaws tactics used to drive traffic—like affiliate links, ranking sites, and social media posts—regardless of the platform’s licensing status abroad.
Set to take effect three months after its official enactment, the revised law empowers ISPs and social media firms to remove gambling-related content proactively. The National Police Agency (NPA) will support enforcement with new guidelines and has begun labeling such material as “illegal information.”
Millions Gambling Illegally, Often Unaware
An NPA survey revealed that about 3.37 million Japanese residents have used illegal gambling sites, placing annual bets totaling over ¥1.2 trillion ($8.3 billion). Alarmingly, only 40% knew they were breaking the law, with awareness lowest among people in their 20s.
Authorities blame this knowledge gap on misleading claims online, such as suggestions that using foreign sites is legally ambiguous, and the use of celebrity endorsements. Officials are now contacting talent agencies to warn that such promotions may legally amount to aiding illegal gambling.
Public Campaigns and Potential Blocking Measures
To raise awareness, Japan is launching nationwide education efforts. These include leaflets, ad campaigns at concerts and stadiums, and outreach via delivery companies. Authorities hope these efforts will cut into the estimated 75% of users who eventually shift from free casino games to real-money betting.
While Japan currently avoids technical censorship, more aggressive options—like site blocking—are under review. The communications ministry has convened a panel to study whether such actions would violate constitutional privacy protections.
Curacao Under Scrutiny
Japanese regulators are particularly focused on Curacao, where 70% of the top 40 Japanese-language gambling sites are based. Most of these do not block Japanese traffic, and only two explicitly warn users from Japan.
Echoing concerns raised by Australia and others, Japan has asked Curacao and similar jurisdictions to remove Japanese-language options and clearly state that gambling from Japan is illegal.
Balancing Legal Casinos with Online Risks
These crackdowns come as Japan prepares to open its first legal casino resort—MGM Osaka—in 2030. The $9.4 billion development is expected to boost tourism, but lawmakers fear its success could be undermined by the unchecked growth of offshore gambling.
With a mix of legislative force, international pressure, and public education, Japan is aiming to shut down access to illegal online casinos and reshape its gambling landscape.
