Japan Approves Bill to Crack Down on Online Casino Sites

Japan, June 6, 2025 — www.zonadeazar.com On Tuesday (June 3), Japan’s House of Representatives approved a bill that bans the launch of online casino platforms and criminalizes websites and advertisements promoting such activities. The measure aims to curb the growing number of illegal online casinos, which already have an estimated 3.4 million players in the country.

The bill received support from both the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. The new legislation amends existing laws to introduce tougher penalties for promoting or accessing online casino sites.

According to the National Police Agency, approximately 3.3 million people in Japan have already engaged in online casino games, spending around ¥1.24 trillion (US$8.7 billion) annually. While online casinos are legal in other countries, they are prohibited under Japanese law, and the government now plans to tighten restrictions further.

The new law criminalizes any form of online communication that encourages access to online casinos, including advertisements and promotional posts. Social media companies and online service providers may also be held accountable if they fail to remove illegal content.

Penalties include fines of up to ¥500,000 (US$3,500) and, for repeat offenders, up to three years in prison. The bill still needs approval from the Upper House before the end of the current parliamentary session on June 22.

Edited by: @_fonta — www.zonadeazar.com