The Japan News says that sites have quickly gained popularity among younger people in Japan. This leads some into debt and involvement in illegal part-time jobs.
The National Police Agency will share the findings of their investigation with relevant ministries and agencies. They have the goal of regulating access to the gambling sites and addressing issues related to addiction.
Certain forms of gambling like horse racing are legal in Japan. However, online betting is illegal even if the site is legally operated overseas. Yet, an extensive misconception continue that these overseas-operated gambling sites are legal to use in Japan.
Similarweb Ltd., a Tokyo-based digital analysis firm conducted a survey. It revealed that in December of 2018, there were about 700,000 visits monthly to online casinos from Japan. This number outpoured sharply from 2019. It reached an estimated 83 million visits monthly by September 2021.
The National Police Agency reported that 107 individuals used illegal online casinos in 2023. 32 of these accessed these sites through smartphones or other personal devices. This is a significant increase from just one person in 2022. Nevertheless, detecting individual gamblers is challenging. Authorities estimate these 32 cases are likely only a small fraction of the actual number.
The agency plans to investigate online casino operators targeting Japanese users. This includes their locations, money transfer methods, and the volume of visits from the country. Additionally, the agency will survey over 7,000 people across different age groups in Japan. It will include those from teenagers to those in their 70s, and make a report on online casino usage by the end of the fiscal year.
Japan approved its first land-based casino in 2023. This is with MGM Osaka planning to open as early as 2030.
Even though the entry of Japan into land-based gaming came later, the country has long had local gambling activities. This includes pachinko, which have been popular for many years.
