Japanese police recorded 279 individuals involved in online gambling in 2024 - three times more compared to 2023.
Japan is facing a surge in online gambling activity, despite its illegality, prompting a crackdown by the National Police Agency (NPA). A recent preliminary investigation revealed a record 279 individuals involved in online casinos in 2024, a figure that has tripled compared to the previous year and represents the highest number since records began in 2018.
This alarming trend highlights the increasing accessibility of overseas gambling sites and the challenges law enforcement faces in combating this illicit activity.
The NPA's data reveals a record 162 online casino users and 117 dealers were identified nationwide. The allure of online casinos, offering everything from virtual slot machines to roulette and sports betting, is proving difficult to resist for some Japanese citizens. While gambling is generally illegal in Japan, with exceptions for publicly run activities like horse racing and keirin, these online platforms operate from overseas, often legally, and offer their services in Japanese, blurring the lines of legality for many users. It is estimated that over 3 million people in Japan are engaged in online gambling, with many potentially unaware of the legal ramifications.
The ease of access through smartphones and mobile devices has significantly contributed to the rise in online gambling. Previously, individuals might have visited physical shops in entertainment districts to access these sites. Now, the convenience of mobile access, coupled with readily available payment methods like bank transfers and credit cards for purchasing gambling points, has made online gambling more pervasive than ever.
While the online casino operators themselves are often based overseas and operate legally within their own jurisdictions, Japanese law prohibits citizens from gambling online, regardless of the site's location. Violators face fines of up to ¥500,000, and habitual gamblers could even face imprisonment of up to three years. However, the jurisdictional complexities make it difficult for Japanese police to prosecute those involved, as they often require cooperation from countries where these operators are based, necessitating mutual legal frameworks for similar offenses.
This legal hurdle has prompted the NPA to focus its efforts on payment agency service operators. These agencies facilitate the exchange of yen for gambling points, providing a crucial link to the online casinos. By targeting these financial intermediaries, the police hope to disrupt the flow of funds to these illegal platforms and identify users through their transaction records.
A survey conducted by the Tokyo-based International Casino Institute revealed the extent of the problem. Their research indicated that 2.8% of respondents, when extrapolated to the national population, suggests an estimated 3.46 million people in Japan have participated in online gambling in the past 12 months. Further reinforcing this data, an analysis by the Yomiuri Shimbun of 30 popular online casinos offering Japanese language services showed a staggering 84 million access attempts from Japan in 2024, with over 70% originating from mobile devices.
The combination of readily available technology, the allure of quick winnings, and the complex legal landscape surrounding overseas operators has created a perfect storm for the growth of online gambling in Japan. As the NPA intensifies its crackdown, the future of this booming, yet illegal, industry remains uncertain.
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