Japanese Government Proposes Extensive Strategies to Combat Unlawful Online Gambling

Japan mulls over extensive strategies to combat unlawful internet gambling operations

Let's Roll: Millions in Japan Busted at Illegal Online Casinos

(Disclaimer: This article contains strong language and frank discussions about adult content, privacy issues, and illegal activities.)

Over 3.37 Million Japanese Gamblers Ignoring the Ban

Japan's government is considering drastic measures to clamp down on online gambling, thanks to the rapidly increasing number of gambling addicts and illegal activities associated with gambling. According to The Japan News [Link in English] and other sources, over 3.37 million Japanese citizens are participating in online casinos in defiance of the law - with a staggering annual betting volume surpassing 7.6 billion Euros.

The Japanese Government Takes Aim at Casinos Online

In April 2025, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications assembled an expert panel to explore the possibility of blocking online casino websites. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) also aims to revise a central framework law to combat gambling addiction. The proposed measures include:

Internet service providers preventing the promotion of illegal gambling sites.
Banning affiliate sites that direct users to gambling portals.
Blocking credit card payments to specific providers.
Enhancing youth protection filter software.

Millions Playing with Fire - Experts Sound the Alarm

The National Police Agency reports that millions of Japanese are taking part in online gambling, despite the ban. Most of the participants are younger individuals who may be unaware that their actions are illegal. According to magazine Sumikai [Link in English], 43.5% of respondents did not realize that online casinos were banned in Japan. Worryingly, 46% of those affected admitted to becoming indebted due to gambling.

Among the most concerning aspects is that over 60% of users have acknowledged their addiction to online gambling themselves. The ease with which people can access these sites via their smartphones sparks concern that it accelerates their descent into addiction while making it extremely difficult to escape.

"[Online casino gambling] is like playing a video game, and they quickly become addicted," warned Takanobu Matsuzaki, head of the psychiatric department of the National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center. "Access to online casino websites is easy with smartphones, making it difficult to treat them by denying access."

The Cherry on top of all these issues is the blowback the Japanese government is receiving from human rights activists, who accuse it of overstepping its bounds and violating citizens' privacy. The government's plan to implement an AI-based filter software/Censorship tool called i-FILTER by software developer Digital Arts [Link in English] has raised concerns, as similar measures have only been legally enforceable for child pornography until now.

Several human rights organizations have lambasted the government for its heavy-handed approach to online gambling. """The government is trampling on citizens' privacy and telecommunications secrecy," said Yuichiro Tamaki, a constitutional expert at Tokyo University. "They're taking a long, hard look at citizens' internet activities."

The Global Gambling Unlawful Gambling Crackdown

While Japan mulls over the blocking of illegal online casinos, several countries have already implemented comprehensive measures against unlawful online gambling. Here's a quick rundown:

Germany: Since the introduction of the new Gambling State Treaty 2021, authorities have been systematically blocking unlicensed providers using net locks (DNS blocking) and preventing payment streams.
Austria: The Austrian gambling authority uses IP and DNS blocking to block unlicensed providers.
United Kingdom: The Gambling Commission works with internet providers to block illegal sites via DNS blocking.
Norway: Internet providers may block gambling sites upon instruction from the Norwegian regulatory authority since 2024.
Denmark: The Danish Gambling Authority has blocked 49 illegal providers, including sports betting and casino sites without a Danish license, since 2012.
Australia: The ACMA has comprehensive blocking powers, regularly publishing public lists of blocked providers and requiring cooperation from internet providers.

Jailbird Scandals Add Fuel to the Fire

A series of scandals involving celebrities and professional athletes has intensified the pressure on the Japanese government to address the issue of online gambling. Comedians from the agency Yoshimoto Kogyo and several baseball players have been caught gambling online, sparking outrage and calls for more stringent regulation.

"The government needs to protect the public from these scumbag gamblers and free us from their influence," said Hiromi Yamamoto, a concerned citizen. "Everybody knows that online casinos are a cancer to society, and it's high time we took action against them."

Stay tuned for updates in the war against illegal online gambling in Japan.

What's happening with online casinos in Japan despite the ban? Millions of citizens are participating, leading to an annual betting volume of over 7.6 billion Euros.
The Japanese government is taking steps to combat this issue, including blocking online casino websites.
The Liberal Democratic Party aims to revise a central framework law to fight gambling addiction.
Measures include preventing the promotion of illegal gambling sites, banning affiliate sites, blocking credit card payments, and enhancing youth protection software.
Many participants are younger individuals who may be unaware that their actions are illegal.
Nearly half of the respondents in a survey did not realize online casinos were banned in Japan.
Over 60% of users have acknowledged their addiction to online gambling.
Experts warn that the ease of access via smartphones makes it difficult to escape addiction.
The Japanese government's AI-based filter software has raised privacy concerns among human rights activists.
Some critics argue that the government is violating citizens' privacy and telecommunications secrecy.
Germany, Austria, the UK, Norway, Denmark, and Australia have already implemented comprehensive measures against unlawful online gambling.
In Germany, authorities systematically block unlicensed providers using net locks and prevent payment streams.
Scandals involving celebrities and professional athletes have intensified the pressure on the Japanese government to address online gambling.
One concerned citizen, Hiromi Yamamoto, calls for more stringent regulation and protection from online gambling's influence.
Yamamoto sees online casinos as a cancer to society and thinks it's time for action against them.
Stay updated on the war against illegal online gambling in Japan, as efforts continue to clamp down on this activity.