If Japan’s citizens gamble at an unlicensed website or establishment, they risk legal consequences. Japan is one of the few jurisdictions in the world that actively prosecutes its own citizens for such actions.
Heightened preparatory activity marks the launch of Japan’s first integrated resort. It is the looming arrival of MGM Osaka. Specifically online casinos, one of the pillars of this has been the hardline stance Japan has adopted against the illegal online market.
The country has shown little leniency and remarkable zeal in holding ordinary citizens accountable for placing bets and gambling on overseas platforms that are not legally permitted to operate in Japan.
Targeting local citizens has proven swifter, while going after the platforms themselves has been on the agenda of the government. Japan has now taken a new step. It has issued requests to eight jurisdictions, asking them to restrict access to locally-based websites. The goal is to block access for Japanese residents and individuals connecting from within Japan.
Many of these websites have deliberately used the Japanese language and yen as the native currency to appear legitimate. This often misleads unsuspecting residents into thinking they are gambling on legal platforms. However, gambling on such websites is a crime.
Despite of 3 million people in the country actively engaging with overseas websites, Japan has put the onus on users to be aware of such scams.
Authorities caution that these websites are easily accessible on desktop computers, laptops, and handheld devices such as tablets and smartphones. They operate from jurisdictions including Canada, Costa Rica, Georgia, Malta, Anjouan Island in the Comoros, Curaçao (Netherlands), the Isle of Man, and Gibraltar.
Japan has already formally reached out to local authorities, as well as regulators in a bid to shutter the Japanese-facing operations of these illegal websites.
The country has analyzed 40 online gambling sites, primarily casinos. These sites have been targeting Japanese users. Most of them are registered in Curaçao.
