Online casinos are illegal in Japan under the Penal Code, which regulates all gambling activities including digital platforms. Accessing and playing foreign online casinos from Japan constitutes illegal gambling under Japanese law, even if those casinos operate legally overseas (1). Following amendments in September 2025, the Basic Act on Countermeasures Against Gambling Addiction now prohibits presenting websites or applications that provide access to illegal online gambling and disseminating information that induces participation in such activities (1).
The revised gambling addiction law that took effect September 25, 2025 bans launching new online casinos including smartphone applications and posting online advertisements for such sites across all platforms including social media (2). The government requires national and local authorities to raise awareness about the illegality of online gambling while compelling website administrators and social media operators to remove gambling-related advertisements when instructed by authorities (2).
"Approximately 3.37 million people in Japan — of whom nearly 60% were in their 20s and 30s — are estimated to have gambled via online casinos."
Despite strict prohibitions, Japanese players wager approximately ¥1.24 trillion annually on offshore platforms. The National Police Agency actively cracks down on online casino users, with recent high-profile arrests including celebrities and sports personalities highlighting enforcement intensification (2). The government collaborates with financial institutions to suppress remittances and credit card payments to online casinos, while the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications considers requiring Internet Service Providers to block access to illegal gambling sites (1).
Source:
https://www.dlapiper.com/en/insights/publications/2025/10/online-gambling-in-japan---recent-regulatory-developments
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/24/japan/crime-legal/gambling-law-takes-effect/
Last updated: 13-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
