Japanese Authorities to Implement Extensive Strategies Targeting Unlawful Online Gambling Sites
Digging Deep: Japan's Fight Against Underground Online Casinos
- Illicit Online Gambling on the Rise in Japan
- Government's Response: Blocking, Legislation, and Regulation
The surge of gambling addicts and unlawful activities tied to gaming has triggered the Japanese administration to take drastic measures against illicit online casinos. This includes, among other steps, a report by the Japanese daily newspaper The Japan News [Link in English].
At the end of April 2025, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications organized a panel of experts to consider the feasibility of blocking such sites, restricting access to unlawful online casinos.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) also intends to revise the fundamental framework law to combat gambling addiction. The plan includes legally obliging internet service providers to refrain from promoting unlawful online casinos. Furthermore, affiliate sites that guide users to illegal gambling portals shall be banned. Additionally, credit card payments to specific providers will be blocked, and youth protection filter software will be intensified.
Millions of Users Despite Ban - Health Professionals Alarmed by Addiction Risks
According to the National Police Agency, approximately 3.37 million people in Japan have participated in online casinos disregarding the ban - the annual betting volume amounts to over 1.2 trillion JPY (around 7.6 billion EUR).
Youths are particularly affected, with many unaware that participation is illegal. According to a survey reported by the magazine Sumikai [Link in English], 43.5% of respondents did not know that online casinos are banned in Japan; 46% of those affected reported being in debt due to gambling.
The concerning fact is that over 60% of users have recognized their addiction themselves. However, the ease of accessing gambling through smartphones accelerates dependency and simultaneously makes it hard to recover.
They lose themselves in online casino gambling as though they were playing a video game and quickly become addicted. Since access to online casino websites is easily achieved through smartphones, it is challenging to treat them by denying access.-Takanobu Matsuzaki, Head of the Psychiatric Department of the National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, The Japan Times
Constitutional Concerns and Technical Challenges
Processes such as the AI-based filter software i-FILTER by software developer Digital Arts [1] intend to help block access to betting sites in the future. While similar measures only have been legally enforceable for child pornographic content, the expert panel is examining whether this is feasible for online casinos. An interim report on the practicality of these measures is expected by summer 2025.
The principal hurdles lie in the constitutionally protected telecommunications secrecy, which prohibits internet service providers from inspecting data traffic. Previous anti-access attempts have failed exactly at this point. Therefore, discussions revolve around alternative measures such as voluntary blocking by foreign providers or strengthened international cooperation.
Countries Around the World: Tackling Illegal Online Gambling
While Japan deliberates on the blocking of unlawful online casinos, other nations have already implemented significant measures. Western countries typically rely on targeted blocking combined with payment and advertisement restrictions.
A comparison:
- Germany: Since the introduction of the new Gaming State Treaty 2021, German authorities systematically block illegal providers using network blocking (DNS blocking)[2]. Furthermore, payment streams are disrupted - for example, through cooperation with banks and payment service providers.
- Austria: The Austrian gambling authority (GGL) uses IP and DNS blocking to block illegal providers. The Administrative Court has already confirmed the legality of these blocks in 2019[4].
- United Kingdom: The Gambling Commission works with internet providers to block illegal sites via DNS blocking. Moreover, affiliate marketing is monitored, and payment service providers must block suspicious transactions.
- Norway: Since 2024, Norwegian internet providers may block DNS addresses of dangerous gambling sites upon instruction from the Norwegian regulatory authority. Only state-licensed operators like Norsk Tipping are permitted to operate[5]. Additionally, information campaigns and sanctions against unlawful operators are planned.
- Denmark: The Danish Gambling Authority Spillemyndigheden had 49 unlawful providers legally blocked in 2023, including sports betting and casino sites without a Danish license. Since 2012, over 270 blocks have been imposed[3]. The authority actively seeks new sites, using automation and citizen reports, and regularly takes legal action. Providers must display the official license logo when operating legally.
- Australia: The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has extensive blocking powers, publishing regular lists of banned providers and demanding cooperation from internet providers.
Celebrity Scandals intensify the Pressure
A significant catalyst for the current debate about the peril of unlawful online casinos was a series of scandals involving celebrities and professional athletes [6] caught participating in online gambling, including comedians from the Yoshimoto Kogyo agency and several baseball players.
[1] https://digitalarts.co.jp/ifaai/[2] https://www.bundesmandat-bmjv.de/themen/spielsucht-und-geldspiele/staatsministerium-entwickelt-neues-spielregressionsverfahren/news.html[3] https://www.regeringensmedarbejder.dk/ministerier/ministeriet-for-finanskontoret-efm/nyheder-analyser-aas-og-artikler/arbejdsomraade-mod-nordisk-regionalisering-til-p successfully-of-online-money-laundering[4] https://www.jugendschutzbehoerde.at/de/themen/internet/filtersoftware/[5] https://www.norsktipping.no/om-oss/media/press-center/pressextra-nsn-stage-front-av-og-herramis[6] https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/06/national/japan-sports-gambling-scandal/
- The Japanese government, concerned about the rise of illicit online casinos and their associated problems, is taking drastic measures to combat the issue. This includes blocking access to unlawful online casinos, revising the fundamental framework law to combat gambling addiction, and legally obliging internet service providers to refrain from promoting such sites.
- Despite the ban, millions of people in Japan continue to participate in online casinos, with approximately 3.37 million users reported by the National Police Agency. The alarming rate of addiction among these users, particularly among youths, has alarmed health professionals.
- In Germany, mechanisms such as DNS blocking and payment restrictions have been implemented under the Gaming State Treaty 2021 to curb illegal online gambling. Similar measures have been taken in countries like Austria, the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, and Australia.
- The intensification of the debate about unlawful online casinos in Japan was triggered by a series of scandals involving celebrities and professional athletes, including comedians from the Yoshimoto Kogyo agency and several baseball players.
- Discussions surrounding the blocking of unlawful online casinos in Japan face challenges such as constitutional concerns and technical difficulties, particularly with regards to telecommunications secrecy and data traffic inspection.
