The government of Japan has approved a legislative amendment targeted at stamping out online gambling activities in the country.
The House of Councillors is the upper house of the Japanese government. It recently passed the revision of the Basic Act on Measures against Gambling and Other Addiction.
Local media reports that the reforms explicitly restrict offering websites or programs that enable unauthorized online gambling. This applies to individuals in Japan.
The amended law also criminalizes the dissemination of information that could encourage or lead users to participate in such gambling activities.
While not specifying direct penalties for violations, the update gives a clear legal basis to suppress content that promotes online casinos, as well as gambling services.
The new law restricts several types of conduct. These include operating or launching online casino platforms. It also bans listing online casino apps in app stores. Authorities also prohibit publishing or sharing links to these sites on social media or through advertisements.
The bill also targets indirect promotion. This includes inviting users to register for specific online casinos. It also covers providing Japanese-language access to foreign gambling platforms.
The legislation also bans the creation and operation of aggregator websites. These sites introduce or rank online casinos. Authorities now prohibit content such as “Top 10 Recommended Online Casinos.”
The government anticipates a disincentive effect by increased content moderation.
An organization contracted by the Internet Hotline Centre will handle this, under the National Police Agency. The agency now has the authority to ask telecommunications companies and related entities to remove related content.
The Japanese government has emphasized that gambling remains illegal under its Criminal Code. This applies even when using platforms that are legally licensed and operated overseas.
The revised law reinforces this through stating that any bets placed through such platforms by residents of Japan constitute a criminal offense.
