Japan to Strengthen Measures Against Gambling Addiction and Illegal Online Casinos
The Japanese government approved a new plan on March 21 to combat gambling addiction, which includes strict measures to regulate affiliates, payment intermediaries, and digital advertising.
This move marks the first official action by the central government in addressing the issue of gambling addiction in the country.
The measures will target not only local gambling establishments but also online casinos operating outside of Japan.
Updated Gambling Addiction Plan
Under the approved plan, Japan will focus on strengthening control over affiliates — companies or individuals who earn commissions for bringing new players to online casinos. The plan also includes strict measures for payment intermediaries involved in financial transactions between players and overseas online casinos.
One of the key initiatives is the ban on advertising online casinos, as well as creating campaigns to inform businesses about the harm of gambling addiction. In particular, the government will provide new advertising materials warning about the illegality of online casinos in Japan and will actively combat the promotion of such sites through social media.
The Problem of Illegal Online Casinos in Japan
In recent years, the number of users of illegal online casinos in Japan has significantly increased. According to the National Police Agency of Japan, around 3.37 million Japanese have used overseas gambling sites, leading to annual losses of approximately 1.2 trillion yen. Against this backdrop, there has been a rise in gambling addiction cases, especially among the youth.
One of the most high-profile scandals involved Japanese table tennis player Koki Niwa, who was implicated in illegal gambling. In February of this year, it was revealed that several players from Nippon Professional Baseball were also involved in online gambling. This brought significant media and public attention to the issue of online casinos.
New Measures Against Online Casinos
As part of the new strategy adopted by the government, additional measures will be introduced to combat violations. The approved plan envisions tightening control over affiliate activities and expanding legal frameworks to hold accountable those who contribute to the spread of online casinos in the country.
A note by the Minister for Gambling Addiction Prevention Yoshitaka Ito highlights that the number of online casino users in Japan is growing, leading to an increase in gambling addiction. However, public organizations, such as the Society Concerned About Gambling Addiction, believe that the government should take additional steps, including legislative changes, to effectively address this issue.
Legislation and Accountability
In Japan, most forms of gambling are prohibited, except for betting on state-sponsored sports events such as horse racing and motor racing. However, during the pandemic, more people have shifted to online betting. Even if an online casino operates legally abroad, accessing it from Japan is a criminal offense, subject to fines and prison sentences.
The government is also considering introducing restrictions on online betting for public gambling and a ban on using credit cards for transactions in such games.
Conclusions and Recommendations
The introduction of the new gambling addiction prevention plan in Japan demonstrates the government’s serious commitment to this issue. However, as noted by a gambling expert, additional legislative measures and a comprehensive approach are necessary to effectively combat online casinos and their impact on society.