Japan has appealed to various countries and territories to stop online gambling operators licensed in their regions from offering services to Japanese residents.
Japan’s National Police Agency, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reached out to Anjouan, Canada, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Georgia, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, and Malta. This request will be reiterated with new laws targeting offshore sites and their users.
Offshore gambling operators often bypass betting bans, operating in a legal gray area by being licensed in one jurisdiction but servicing another, leaving target countries unable to stop citizens from accessing these sites. In most places, like the USA, using an offshore site is not a criminal offense, or is unenforced. Japan’s approach is stricter, implementing laws to further criminalize gambling on and operating these sites. Recently, J-Pop star Shion Tsurubo faced prosecution for online casino gambling.
Japan’s Financial Services Agency and National Police Agency issued joint guidance to financial institutions, reminding them that gambling is illegal and to limit payments to online operators.
Analysis shows over 70% of Japanese casino sites are registered in Curaçao, targeting countries with strict gambling laws like Japan and the USA. Japanese police estimate around three million citizens gamble on offshore sites, wagering 1.24 trillion yen ($8.6bn) annually. Despite global trends towards relaxing gambling laws, Japan maintains restrictions, allowing only state-run lotteries and certain racing events.
Legal gambling in Japan remains, with April’s ground-breaking ceremony for MGM Osaka resort, set to open in 2030, as the nation’s sole integrated resort for betting.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com
