Japan’s National Police Agency is set to launch its first investigation into online casinos operated overseas.
According to The Japan News, these sites have rapidly gained popularity among younger people in Japan, leading some into debt and involvement in illegal part-time jobs.
The National Police Agency will share the findings of its investigation with relevant ministries and agencies, with the goal of regulating access to the gambling sites and addressing issues related to addiction.
While certain forms of gambling, such as horse racing, are legal in Japan, online betting is illegal—even if the site is legally operated overseas. Nonetheless, a widespread misconception persists that these overseas-operated gambling sites are legal to use in Japan.
A survey by Tokyo-based digital analysis firm Similarweb Ltd. revealed that there were about 700,000 visits per month to online casinos from Japan in December of 2018. This number surged sharply from 2019, reaching approximately 83 million visits per month by September 2021.
The National Police Agency reported that 107 individuals used illegal online casinos last year. Of these, 32 accessed these sites via smartphones or other personal devices, a significant increase from just one person in 2022. However, detecting individual gamblers is challenging, and authorities estimate these 32 cases are likely only a small fraction of the actual number.
The agency plans to investigate online casino operators targeting Japanese users, including their locations, money transfer methods, and the volume of visits from Japan. Additionally, it will survey over 7,000 people across various age groups in Japan, from teenagers to those in their 70s, and produce a report on online casino usage by the end of the fiscal year.
Japan approved its first land-based casino last year, with MGM Osaka planned to open as early as 2030.
Although Japan’s entry into land-based gaming came later, the country has long had local gambling activities, such as pachinko, which have been popular for many years.
