The election of Sanae Takaichi as Japan’s first female Prime Minister marks a historic moment — and signals a clear conservative direction for the country’s policy making, including support for casinos.
In the gaming sector, early indications point to a calculated two-track approach: continued traction for land-based casino resorts, but a tougher stance on online gambling.
Often dubbed Japan’s “Iron Lady” for her hardline views and admiration of Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi’s long-standing legislative record suggests she could prioritize the economic potential of brick-and-mortar casino developments while cracking down on what she regards as the social risks of unregulated digital gaming.
Takaichi’s position on large-scale, regulated gambling aligns with her past support for Japan’s Integrated Resort (IR) policy — the framework that legalized casinos in 2016 and established detailed regulations in 2018.
She was among the early proponents of casino legalization in the 2010s, having supported initial legislative efforts and backed the IR Implementation Bill. Her advocacy has consistently focused on the potential of IRs to boost inbound tourism and stimulate local economies — key priorities for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
With the MGM Resorts–led Osaka IR project already under construction and scheduled to open in 2030, her government is expected to maintain policy continuity and political support for the multi-billion-dollar development.
For the traditional casino industry, Takaichi’s leadership could represent stability and predictability — a continuation of Japan’s cautious but committed approach to land-based gaming development.
Framing a ‘social hazard’
While Takaichi backs Japan’s tightly regulated IR model, she has taken a sharply different stance toward online gambling. Before assuming office, she voiced strong opposition to unlicensed internet casinos, describing them as potential sources of funding for “mobile criminal groups” and as a “social hazard” threatening financial and public safety.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi consistently took a strong stance against online gambling, particularly online casinos, emphasizing regulation and public awareness. She repeatedly called for stricter legal measures, including private-member bills, to curb the spread of online casinos and close loopholes in existing laws.
Takaichi highlighted the dangers of online gambling, focusing on addiction, accumulated debt, and links to criminal groups, framing it as both a social and economic issue. She also stressed the need to ban inducement through advertising or social media, aiming to prevent people from unknowingly participating in illegal activities.
She also consistently underlined the importance of public education, ensuring that citizens are fully aware that wagering at online casinos is illegal, while citing government research indicating significant user numbers and high rates of self-reported addiction as evidence that the issue is urgent.
Her arrival in office also follows the government’s recent law banning online casino operations and advertising targeting Japanese users, enacted in June 2025 — a sweeping move that criminalizes not only the operation and use of illegal sites but also their promotion and payment facilitation.
Takaichi could therefore continue this enforcement-driven approach, emphasizing law and order over revenue collection. Her rhetoric aligns with that of law enforcement and public health officials who view online gambling primarily as a criminal and social issue rather than a taxable industry.
The emerging picture under Prime Minister Takaichi is one of balance: Japan will likely maintain its carefully regulated Integrated Resort strategy to attract tourism and investment, while tightening control over the digital sphere to curb unlicensed online gambling.
