Japan is ramping up its efforts to combat online gambling addiction, with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Cabinet approving a new strategy aimed at curbing the rise in online casino participation. The plan includes tougher regulations on payment collection agencies and affiliate marketers who profit from directing players to offshore gambling sites.
The government will also focus on raising awareness among businesses, urging them to remove online casino advertisements and block promotional websites. Additionally, new social media campaigns will remind users that online gambling remains illegal in Japan according to The Japan Times.
“There are strong indications that the number of people accessing online casino sites is increasing, leading to the accompanying problem of addiction,” said Yoshitaka Ito, Japan’s minister in charge of gambling addiction measures.
Despite these efforts, some advocacy groups believe the government’s response is insufficient. Noriko Tanaka, head of The Society Concerned about Gambling Addiction, emphasized the need for legislative action to enforce stricter controls.
A recent National Police Agency (NPA) survey revealed staggering figures: approximately 3.37 million Japanese residents have engaged in illegal online gambling, with around 1.97 million active users collectively wagering ¥1.2 trillion annually. These findings follow high-profile scandals in the sports and entertainment industries, including investigations into Olympic table tennis medalist Koki Niwa and multiple Nippon Professional Baseball players for online gambling violations.
Tokyo police have also questioned comedians from the Yoshimoto Kogyo talent agency regarding online casino use, further highlighting the issue’s reach. Under Japanese law, gambling on overseas-operated online casinos remains a crime, punishable by fines up to ¥500,000 or up to three years in prison for repeat offenders.
As Japan tightens its grip on illegal gambling, discussions continue on imposing limits on advance online betting for public sports and restricting credit card payments to curb excessive wagering.
