Illegal betting amounts in various parts of Japan have exceeded 1 trillion yen (7.4 billion USD).
Bipartisan members of the Japanese Diet agree to submit a bill during this session to amend existing legislation to ban online casinos.
The bill aims to strengthen measures against gambling-related harms, achieved through negotiations among eight political parties and parliamentary groups.
The proposed changes include banning the establishment or operation of online casino platforms, as well as restricting advertisements or user redirection to such platforms through social media and other channels.
The bill is expected to be submitted to the House of Representatives Cabinet Committee this month and is hoped to be passed before the end of this session.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan has also convened an expert panel to study potential measures to block access to online casinos, including blocking connections to these sites.
Some countries allow the establishment of online casinos, but under the Penal Code, operating online casinos within Japan is prohibited. The proposed revision aims to clarify this and support law enforcement efforts.
According to data released by the National Police Agency of Japan in March, about 3.3 million people in Japan have visited online casinos, with a total annual betting amount of approximately 1.2 trillion yen. The report also noted that many users are unaware that such activities are illegal under Japanese law.
The revised bill calls for central and local governments to conduct public awareness campaigns to inform the public that online casinos are illegal. However, the bill does not include penalty provisions, thus focusing on effective enforcement.
