Rise of Legal Gambling Around the World: How is Japan Keeping Pace?

February 8, 2022 Japan Crime & Legal Industry Updates

Gambling and betting have always accounted for a significant portion of the global economy, regardless of legality.
However, gambling’s global growth has accelerated in the previous five years, after the US Supreme Court’s 2018 decision to overturn the prohibition on sports betting despite the disagreement of several states. The wave of legalization spread to other nations, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany. However, Japan is the nation that this incident has directly impacted. Just two months after lifting the gambling ban in the US, the “IR maintenance law” was passed in Japan in July 2018.

History of Gambling in Japan
Japan was considered the world’s gambling hub in the 17th century, employing 70,000 people. However, during Japan’s national isolation, gambling-related enterprises were prohibited, and all Japanese citizens were required to follow the central government’s rules. Gaming halls were built in Osaka, Kyoto, and other towns, drawing salarymen from all across the country. During the Meiji era, gambling was regarded as entertainment, but authorities changed their minds and proclaimed it prohibited in all forms. The Russo-Japanese War compelled the government to generate additional finances, which resulted in the resurgence of the gambling industry in Japan. However, casino business was illegal in modern Japan until 2018, when the ‘Casino Bill’ was passed.

What is the ‘Casino Bill’?
The “Casino Bill” is officially titled the “Act to Promote the Development of Specified Complex Tourist Facility Areas.” It is a law that promotes the development of integrated resort facilities (IR), including casinos in various tourist-heavy locations. Like other legal gambling operations, casinos would be regulated under the “Act on the Prevention of the Transfer of Criminal Proceeds.”