Illegal Betting Turnover in Japan Reached $45 Billion in 2024
The Council for the Promotion of the Sports Ecosystem (C-SEP) presented data on the scale of illegal betting through offshore operators in the country.
Key Data on Illegal Betting in Japan
| Indicator | Amount (billion USD) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Total Betting Turnover | 45 | The entire amount of illegal bets in 2024 |
| Bets on Japanese Sports | 34 | Bets on competitions held in Japan |
| Bets by Japanese Residents | 7.1 | The amount of bets placed by residents of Japan |
| Bets by Foreign Players | 27 | Bets by players from other countries |
| Bets on the 2024 Olympics | 11.41 | Bets on the Paris Summer Olympic Games |
Distribution of Bets by Sport
- Football: $19.8 billion (60% of bets from China)
- Baseball: $6.1 billion (60% of bets from Japan)
- Basketball: $3.6 billion
Details on Sports Betting in Japan
According to C-SEP, illegal bets in 2024 via overseas websites amounted to approximately 6.5 trillion yen (about $46 billion). Of these:
- About 3.89 trillion yen were placed by foreign players
- About 1.02 trillion yen — by Japanese residents
The majority of bets on Japanese football come from China — approximately 60%, whereas for baseball — 60% of bets were made inside Japan.
Problems and Proposed Solutions
Some overseas sites illegally use live broadcasts of sporting events, team logos, and athlete photos without permission.
Hironori Inagaki, a C-SEP representative, recommends that Japan ratify the Macolin Convention, an international treaty aimed at combating match-fixing and corruption in sports. This convention has been signed by 43 countries and ratified by 14.
Experts believe Japan needs to create a joint public-private body to fight illegal betting and its impact on sports.
Experts’ Opinions
- Yuki Ota, Olympic medalist, emphasized the importance of educating athletes about honesty, considering that bets amounting to 1.65 trillion yen were placed on the 2024 Olympics.
- Toshikazu Yamaguchi, president of Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings, expressed concern over athletes’ involvement in gambling and supported the idea of ratifying international agreements.