Online casino japan legal

New casino sites to play real money

Is it legal to gamble online in japan?
As mentioned above, casino online gambling, and actually gambling, in general, is not legal in japan. Under the criminal code, chapter 23, the generalised practice of gambling, in a land-based casino and via online casino gambling sites is banned, and not supported by any regulatory boards in japan. It is always important to follow the rules and laws of the land, and of course, there is no way shape or form that illegal casino online gameplay practices are condoned by us, which is why the fact that offshore casino online gameplay is not a practice banned by the japanese government.

Is online gambling legal in japan? Wednesday, 12 december 2017

Check all the info needed on online gambling in japan. Is online gambling legal in japan?

Introduction
often times casino online game players are met with very many rules and regulations that tend to get in the way of their epic game time moments.

When it comes to casino online game players that find themselves in japan, there are a few legalities that these players need to take into consideration.

From the onset, it must be clarified that under the criminal code, chapter 23, gambling in japan is generally illegal. There are indeed a few exceptions, where players in japan are given free reign to play to their heart’s content, but overall, gambling in japan is not legal and is fully banned.

Having said that, casino online players are quite innovative and seem to be able to find loopholes when it most matters, therefore any ardent casino online game player seeking to put some hours in on their favourite casino online slot game is able to do so, even if playing in japan. We’ll discuss how this is made possible below, simply put, even in the far reaches of japan, casino online players are able to find a way to get their fun & games on.

However, there are a few exceptions to the rule, where a few gaming enterprises are altogether accepted and legal to take part in, provided they fall under the following categories:

Horse racing

Motorsports racing

Bicycle racing

Motorboat racing

The above types of races allow for gambling to take place around these activities, and are the exception to the criminal code chapter 23 law.

There is also an exception to certain gambling games, where they are legal and playing them is encouraged, as it is considered to be amusement and not gambling. The games in question happen to the be the following:

When a japanese player takes part in any of the above-mentioned activities or sports and decides to place a bet or wager on the outcome, there is no further legal repercussions or ramifications associated as these games are altogether legal to play.

Tell me more
although casino online gambling is at present considered an illegal practice in japan, there have been petitions and bills drafted by certain individuals, who would like to see the casino online gambling industry ban be lifted in japan, and accordingly, there has been a bill drafted in april 2013, requesting the legalisation of land-based casinos in japan.

As of yet this bill is still on the medium-term agenda of japan’s government’s radar and appears to have quite a bit of political support in favour of passing this bill. Should this bill be passed, it will, of course, only have positive implications for the world of casino online gambling as well – but until that happens, online casino game players will have to continue forfeiting their right to play their casino online slot game while in japan.

The other alternative, however, is for the casino online game player is to log in to an offshore online casino that accepts players from japan, and continue to play their hand at the various casino online game titles available to them from that particular online casino brand. This is indeed a viable option for casino online game player in japan, as the government has not placed a ban on offshore online casinos catering for the players in japan. There is also no record of any casino online player from japan being prosecuted for playing via an offshore casino online gambling site.

So, as is quite plain to see from the above-mentioned factors, it is quite clear that although japan has banned online poker and internet casino gameplay within their jurisdiction, there is still a light at the end of the gaming tunnel, so to speak, as casino online players are still able to access their favourite casino online gaming titles via the use of an offshore gaming portal.

Conclusion
playing at an online casino in japan is not overly done, and even given the largely populated underground gambling circles in japan, there is still an unwritten rule that casino online game players know very well when playing in japan.

There is a loophole that many a casino online game player will choose to frequent, in lieu of grabbing that opportunity to play a casino online game title; and that loophole entails making use of an offshore casino online gambling site. Usually the offshore casino online gambling site will have a casino online gambling licence issued from macau, which means that the casino online gambling site in question may tend to operate from the macau shores, in which case it is still quite legal for casino online game players to access and play their favourite casino online game titles, from this type of offshore casino online gaming site.

It is always important to follow the rules and laws of the land, and of course, there is no way shape or form that illegal casino online gameplay practices are condoned by us, which is why the fact that offshore casino online gameplay is not a practice banned by the japanese government.

Where there is will, there will be a way found and implemented. And when it comes to casino online players in japan, although it is not legal to take part in casino online gambling in japan – it is very much legal to access those offshore casino online gambling sites accordingly.

The fact that there is still a great opportunity for any good casino online slot game player, whether situated in japan or elsewhere, to be able to access a gaming portal via the offshore casino online platforms bodes well for game player the world over.

Gambling laws in japan

**legal through government sanctioned providers only

The season of change is in japan.

In december of 2016, parliament passed the integrated resort promotion law that will change the landscape of gambling in the country. Big players like las vegas’ MGM resorts international are pressing for a part of the business, as expectations are high.

Yokohama and osaka, japan’s second- and third-largest cities, are presumed to be the locations for the first casinos. Some of the hopeful government officials expect construction on at least two resorts to be completed before the 2020 summer olympics in tokyo.

The new law allows for casino gambling as long as the gaming floor is part of an entire resort complex.

The resort must include a hotel, international conference hall, and entertainment venues. There won’t be any small one-off casinos sprinkled around the area. Operators are subject to a stringent approval process, and only the biggest and the best will come out with a nod of approval.

Before this new and future legislation, chapter 23 was on the books. It essentially made all forms of gambling illegal, except for those sanctioned by the government. Today’s betting opportunities that are on the acceptable list include a national lottery, toto (football lottery), horse racing, boat racing, bicycle racing, and motorcycle racing.

There are 12,000 pachinko parlors in the country, but there’s more of a gray area that accompanies them. The operators are not able to pay out cash prizes, so winners are paid out in tokens. The tokens are exchanged through a different retail operator off premises to get around the provision.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Japan? Wednesday, 12 December 2017, online casino japan legal.

Age requirements: 20 years of age or older

Approximate annual gambling GDP: 283 billion (US dollars)

Current number of commercial casinos: 0

Number of poker rooms: 0

Number of tribal casinos: 0

Casino regulatory body: national and local governments

The legal status of gambling in japan

While the integrated resort promotion law will change the landscape of casino gambling in japan, the laws regarding racing, football betting, and the lottery will remain intact.

There are plenty of gambling opportunities for residents, but they are only legal through government-approved vendors.

The japan racing association provides ten race courses as well as forty-three off track betting facilities and online and phone betting.

The non-JRA tracks are overseen by local governments and also have OTB opportunities, but the biggest bettors tend to stick with the JRA tracks.

The lottery is appealing in japan, as prizes are tax-free. However, for this type of gaming to be legal, less than 50% of the entire sales can be issued as a prize. 40% goes to local government, 1% to special welfare, 12% to administration costs and staff, and 45% to the winner.

Toto betting is on J-league soccer pools through sanctioned toto booths in gas stations, convenience shops, and other locations. There are around 6,000 booths throughout japan, and the betting sheet costs 100 yen per line. Top payouts can go as high as 100 million JPY, and like the lottery, the prizes are tax-free. Results are posted on toto-dream.Com.

Boat and bike racing are also on the approved gambling list in japan and are government-controlled. The governments claim approximately 25% of the take, with the rest going to the winning ticket holders.

On the flip side, there are illegal gambling opportunities throughout the country provided by the yakuza, japan’s organized crime organization. They are known to run illicit casinos featuring high-stakes pachinko, mahjong, and baccarat, and are unforgiving when it comes to payments due.

Is online gambling legal in japan?

It’s also difficult for the government to get involved in its monitoring. So, many online casinos and sportsbooks do offer betting services to japanese punters.

The japan racing association does offer some online betting services, but only to registered members who subscribe to the service. There isn’t an open betting website available to everyone.

Where can I gamble in japan?

Although there aren’t any casinos in japan, at least not at present, there are numerous betting outlets scattered throughout the country.

There are 12,000 pachinko parlors, and many of them are located right outside the train stations. The payments will be made to winners via tokens that need to be cashed in away from the premises.

Customers can buy lottery tickets from the various convenience and department stores, and many sales outlets are also positioned near train stations. Some atms also allow for lottery ticket sales.

For all of the public races like the boat race, bicycle, and motorcycle, there are different tracks, as well as ticket outlets in the major cities. J-league soccer pools (football toto) are also purchased through dedicated booths in some obscure locations like electronic stores or car lots.

Off track betting is offered for both japan racing association events, as well as the non-JRA tracks. The following are the ten JRA race courses:

History of japan gambling laws

Century-old lottery was discontinued due to government intervention.

First western-style horse racing was offered through the yokohama race club.

Chapter 23 criminal code outlawed casino and other forms of gambling, except for anything specifically noted as governmentally approved.

Japan racing association was formed.

Although lotteries had been in existence since the 1600s but then discontinued for nearly one hundred years, the national government lottery was re-launched.

Boat races were introduced to japan by the united states.

“boat race” now provided legal pari-mutuel betting to japanese punters.

Attendance at JRA horse racing events reached an all-time annual high of 14,116,694.

Football toto betting was added to list of legal gambling in japan.

Lottery opened up to international players.

Integrated resort promotion law was passed by parliament to allow for casino gambling as long as it’s part of a resort with a hotel, international conference hall, and entertainment venues.

JRA launched a new system that allows family members of problem gamblers to block their access to online horse betting.

Japan gambling FAQ

How does mahjong factor into the japanese gambling climate?

Mahjong was brought to japan in 1924 and became the number one table game in 2010. Even though there are just under 9,000 mahjong parlors in the country, it’s not part of the list of government-sanctioned games that allow for real money gambling. So it’s not uncommon for a mahjong group to rent a table in a parlor for their social game.

Do the non-JRA racecourses provide legal betting opportunities?

Yes. Even though they’re not part of the japan racing association, they are run by the local governments on a smaller scale, and they do offer betting, including OTB and telephone wagers. The tracks are not known to be even close to the quality of the JRA tracks, though.

What is the most popular game of chance in japan?

Pachinko is, by far, the favorite of japanese bettors. Whereas the lottery provides 845 billion JPY to the GDP, pachinko accounts for 4% of the entire GDP. Its annual contribution exceeds 4 trillion JPY. There are more than 12,000 pachinko parlors throughout the country.

Things are currently in a state of flux in japan, with some anticipating the new casino resorts that will most likely be located in yokohama and osaka. But others are still skeptical about the 2020 goal of having two or three in place before the summer olympics in tokyo.

More than half of the residents in japan oppose the plan, so guidelines are still being refined. They have concerns about a casino in their neighborhood, as well as yakuza intervention.

Las vegas’ big players like the MGM resorts international, las vegas sands, and caesars entertainment are vying to be one of the chosen few, but nothing has been officially determined as yet.

Putting aside the future of gambling in japan, the present day still offers a combination of government-approved betting opportunities. These include horse racing through the japan racing association, J-league soccer pools (toto football), boat race, motorcycle and bicycle racing, and the lottery.

Pachinko still claims the top spot in japan’s gambling community, but has to implement a workaround where players are only paid in tokens. They then have to cash in the tokens at a broker. Pachinko parlors are restricted from in-house real money wagering.

The same applies to mahjong, a game that attracts high rollers. Mahjong parlors are all over japan, but aren’t operational for true cash gaming like you’d find in a casino.

While online gambling isn’t on the “allowable” list, there isn’t formal legislation against it that would invite prosecution.

When casino gambling eventually opens its doors in yokohama and osaka, the expectation is that there will be a decline in pachinko, but sports betting and the lottery will continue to be business as usual.

Japan online casino guide

Gambling industry overview in japan

The following approaches will be presented

The gambling situation in japan has always been quite shaky. The country is considered as conservative when it comes to perceiving some traditions or ways of entertainment from the west.

Japanese laws have been and still remain extremely strict. They put a fine line between the so-called “skill” games that are legalized in the country and the “luck-based” games that are currently proclaimed as illegal.

There are no casinos in the country in the western sense of the word. Still, there are currently almost 20,000 gambling halls in japan, which offer “entertainment with prizes” to their visitors.

Overview

Currently, japan is put in the middle of a intense discussions on the matter if it should make casinos legal and permit them in some areas of the country. For several months now, the bill promoting implementation of specified integrated resort areas, which is also known as the “casino bill”, has been aggressively debated.

The bill aims at legalizing casino facilities on the territory of japan, which are currently banned by the country’s laws. The local legislation is often found confusing for non-japanese visitors who do not see the logic for the country to have a giant “pachinko” industry, but not to legalize gambling.

Top rated online casinos for japan

The situation is shaky, because some laws related to gaming and gambling activities in japan date back to the beginning of 20th century and do not correspond to modern life. The initial list of legalized betting activities included only horse riding and bicycle racing. Boat racing and motor biking were added to this list later in order to create the total of four “public sports”, which are the only ones that are not proclaimed “out of law” in japan.

Legal landscape

In general terms, gambling is banned in japan under article 185 of the country’s penal code. The text of the article also provides details on the punishments that are to be imposed in cases of betting on an “event of winning or losing to be decided by chance or accident”.

Maybe one of the worst and most-criticized parts of the current japanese legislation, when it comes to gambling, is the fact that the penal code does not require every aspect of a certain game to be decided by chance or accident only. This basically means that even if a certain part of winning and losing is decided in such a way, the game would be considered as part of the gambling category, which makes it prohibited in the country.

Even the mere act of opening a gambling house on the territory of japan is criminalized in the country.

However, there are four public sports that are legalized under special laws – bicycle racing, motorcycle racing, horse racing and powerboat racing. All of them are currently put under the control of local governments or government corporation. The public lottery and the japanese soccer pools are also exempted from the list of prohibited gambling activities in japan. .

Everyone, who wants to operate the permitted above-mentioned activities, is required a licence. Up to date, licences have been received by local governments or government-related entities only.

Horse racing
the major horse racing activities in the country are currently being operated by an organization called the japan racing association. A total of 24 non-JRA tracks are being run by the local governments on the territory of japan.

Lottery
the lottery has been legalized over the past decade. Nowadays lottery tickets can be purchased directly at the special sanctioned lottery booths. The company that currently runs the national lottery – toto – is the only legally licensed web-based gambling portal.

Pachinko
pachinko is currently not controlled by the country’s government, nevertheless it is quite similar . The game is considered as unique, because none of the other legalized games in the country is so popular among local players.

Bicycle racing
this type of entertainment has been very popular among local citizens for years now. The sport’s beginning in the country was reported after the end of the world war II.

Casinos
up to date, there are no legal casinos existing in japan. The country has been considering to change its policy, as the idea of legalizing casinos has been put on the agenda for years.

Online gambling

Online wagering for lottery, soccer toto and public sport is allowed by the japanese government. However, these are the only types of betting activities that is currently legalized in the country. The only way for local players to access games offered in online casinos, including web-based poker and bingo games, is by using the websites of foreign operators.

Mobile gaming websites are also among the illegal gambling opportunities on the territory of japan.

Steps towards gambling legalization

Over the last few years, the political leaders in japan have been considering the pros and cons of legalizing the gambling industry in the country. An eventual pro-casino legislation is believed able to bring extra capital, but there are also concerns that it would be encouraging for excessive gambling.

Up to date, the so-called casino bill of the country could be put for vote in the municipal elections that are to take place in april 2015. The bill is strongly supported by the prime minister of the country – shinzo abe – and the ruling liberal democratic party. This has made the casino legislation theme one of the hottest topics in the gambling industry over 2014.

If the japanese casino bill is approved, the country’s gambling market will become the third-largest one in the world, after the ones of macau and the US respectively. A large number of international gambling operators have already expressed their interest to make an investment in the country.

The japanese government also believes that if approved, the casino bill would be helpful to the country by assisting it to find a better economic stability. An eventual legalization in the country will also help japan consolidate its growth after years of financial depression. Still, gambling activities remain illegal in the country, which is set to make a decision for its future soon.

General and online gambling laws in japan

Last updated: december 15, 2016 – today, legislation passed to legalize land-based casinos in japan; a huge victory for the country. Experts are predicting their casino gambling market to be a $40 billion. Their original goal was to get this passed in 2014 and have several casinos built before the 2020 olympics in tokyo to capitalize on the tourist boom that comes with such a large world-wide event. But, that did not happen and it’s too late for the casinos to be constructed in time for the olympic games.

Gambling and sport betting are both very popular in japan, though only certain forms are lawful. Specifically, the forms authorized are lottery, scratch cards, pari-mutuel betting on horse racing, keirin (bicycle racing), powerboat racing (kyōtei), and autorace (motorcycles), and soccer toto wagers on J-league. All other forms are prohibited under chapter 23 of the japanese penal code. A huge population of japanese people still bet, and they bet BIG, but they do it online primarily at bet365.Com. This site is known to take ‘frowned upon’ asian bets, like from india.

While the penalties for unlawful betting are harsh, the law is rarely enforced. Nonetheless, a first offense for participating as a player is a petty fine not exceeding ¥500,000. Repeat offenders can be imprisoned up to 3-years.

To show an example of how the law is not enforced, I start this article by discussing pachinko. I then discuss online betting from japan and finally conclude with vast details regarding of our many legal forms of gambling. The goal of this article is to be the most complete guide to gambling in japan.

Pachinko gambling is widespread

There are no legal casinos in japan. However, what we do have is pachinko parlours. These are similar to arcade games found elsewhere in the world that are popular with adolescents playing games to win tickets and then redeeming them for prizes. Here by law you must be age 18+ to play and the machines are used strictly for gambling. The video below explains in english how pachinko works.

Places similar to the one showed in the video are available all over the country – to the tune of perhaps almost 15,000 pachinko parlours nationwide. These are allowed under the law as an amusement, but gambling on them is banned. Despite this, as shown in the video, the balls won are redeemable for prizes or tokens. Those redeeming tokens take them to an offsite location for cash payment.

Though gambling pachinko is illegal, how the system works is common knowledge and is mostly ignored by the police. According to wikipedia entry: pachinko a parlour in kanagawa prefecture had their tokens counterfeited and redeemed. Upon calling the police and admitting to having an illegal redemption centre, the police did nothing to the parlour and only worked to track the thief.

Pachinko gambling is a big money business. About 8-years ago (in 2005), the government estimated annual pachinko gambling volume had reached ¥29 trillion (US$378 billion). This is triple the amount of all legal gambling in japan combined including lottery, horse racing, soccer toto and public sport. This should about tell you about what you need to know regarding our gambling law.

We have many underground casinos, local bookies and card games. Even with poker illegal, the everest poker japan cup was held here n 2007, and the all-japan poker championship was co-organized by a local newspaper. Online gambling is also widespread. The laws are on the books, but little is done to go after casual gamblers. In the rare times action is taken, it is only a petty fine for the first offense.

Online betting in japan

The japanese government allows online betting for lottery, soccer toto, and public sport. However, this is only for pari-mutuel betting with the official channels. For those interesting in betting fixed odds, making in-play wagers, or playing casino, poker or bingo this is possible using foreign betting sites. For example, at www.Bet365.Com it is possible to open an account using a japanese home address. You can also keep your account balance in japanese yen. From this website you can wager sports, horse races, online poker, casino and bingo and much more.

For sports betting, the wagering options are many. Bet365 offers betting on nearly every sports league and sport played around the world. This includes japanese sports. Odds on J-league (J1), J-league division 2 (J2), nabisco cup, emperors cup and super cup soccer are available. You can also find NPB baseball betting and even JB league and JBL league basketball.

The one sport they don’t cover enough of is japanese volleyball. If you are interested in betting japan V-premiere league or any competition our national team participates in I suggest www.Bwin.Com. They as well as william hill, blue square, and countless other UK based companies have online betting in japanese yen (JPY).

These gambling sites clearly display the available deposit and withdrawal options for japan. It is possible to deposit in japanese yen (JPY) using your VISA, mastercard credit card or VISA electron debit card via the online e-wallet skrill. Other e-wallets supported in japan include NETELLER, entropay, and click2pay.

Japan: gambling 2020

The ICLG to: gambling laws and regulations - japan covers common issues in gambling laws and regulations – including relevant authorities and legislation, application for a licence, licence restrictions, digital media, enforcement and liability – in 39 jurisdictions.

Chapter content free access

1. Relevant authorities and legislation

1.1 which entities regulate what type of gambling and social/skill gaming activity in your jurisdiction?

Relevant product

Who regulates it in digital form?

Who regulates it in land-based form?

Casino gaming (including slots and casino table games such as roulette & blackjack)

The casino supervising commission (the “commission”) (note: it has not yet been established).

Only online betting on horse races, bicycle races, motorcycle races and motorboat races operated by the japanese government or municipal bodies is permitted.

Only land-based betting on horse races, bicycle races, motorcycle races and motorboat races operated by the japanese government or municipal bodies is permitted.

Sports/horse race betting (if regulated separately to other forms of betting)

Fantasy betting (payment to back a ‘league’ or ‘portfolio’ selection over a period of time, for example in relation to sport or shares)

Only lottery tickets issued by municipal bodies may be sold via the internet.

Only lottery tickets issued by municipal bodies are permitted.

Social/skill arrangements

“social” gaming with no prize in money or money's worth

Not specifically regulated.

Skill games and competitions with no element of chance

Not specifically regulated, but excessive prizes might be banned by the consumer affairs agency or the fair trade commission under the act against unjustifiable premiums and misleading representations.

1.2 specify: (i) the law and regulation that applies to the relevant products in your jurisdiction; and (ii) – in broad terms – whether it permits or prohibits the offer of relevant products to persons located in your jurisdiction.

For many years, all gaming activities operated by the private sector, either in digital form or in land-based form, were prohibited as criminal offences under the penal code. However, the integrated resort (“IR”) promotion law and the IR implementation law were enacted in 2016 and 2018, respectively. Under these statutes, gaming activities conducted by licensed casino business operators in land-based form within irs are legalised. Meanwhile, online gaming activities are still prohibited. Betting on horse races, bicycle races, motorcycle races, motorboat races and lotteries are only operated by the public sector, and are only made in land-based form (although the betting on such races and the purchase of lottery tickets may be done via the internet). There are no statutes specifically regulating social/skill games either in digital form or in land-based form.

2. Application for a licence and licence restrictions

2.1 what regulatory licences, permits, authorisations or other official approvals (collectively, “licences”) are required for the lawful offer of the relevant products to persons located in your jurisdiction?

As above-mentioned, casino services may be provided only within IR areas and an authorisation by the minister of land, infrastructure and transport will be necessary on the IR area implementation plan to implement in that IR area. While casino business licences are necessary for the lawful offer of gaming activities in japan, such licences may only be granted to IR operators (who operate a complex mixture of facilities, such as convention centres, recreational facilities, tourist facilities and accommodation facilities, as well as casinos) certified by the minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism under the IR implementation law. In other words, a stand-alone casino business operator (a non-IR operator) will not qualify as a licensed casino business operator.

Under the IR implementation law, the maximum number of certified IR areas is three (which number will be reviewed seven years after the issue date of the initial certifications). Each IR area may have only one casino, which will be operated by one casino business operator.

IR/casino business operators must be companies incorporated under the companies act (typically, a kabushiki kaisha (“KK”) or a godo kaisha (“GK”)). There are no residency or nationality requirements to become an owner of an IR/casino business operator, but any person who wishes to own 5% or more of the voting rights, shares or interests in an IR/casino business operator needs to obtain the permission of the commission.

2.2 where licences are available, please outline the structure of the relevant licensing regime.

As mentioned above, the commission may grant a casino business licence to a certified IR operator to operate a casino business in a casino activity area, which is located inside its IR area.

In addition, the commission regulates certain other IR/casino-related parties: (a) a casino facility provider must obtain a licence from the commission if it manages and leases casino facilities to a casino business operator; and (b) the owner of any land that is used for IR/casino facilities must obtain the permission of the commission if it transfers or leases the land to an IR/casino business operator. Since the casino business operator may not execute a contract under which it will pay the counterparty an amount in proportion to the gross gaming revenue (“GGR”), the rent of such casino facility or land shall be agreed in a fixed amount.

Any shareholder having 5% or more of the aggregate voting rights, shares or interests in a licensed casino business operator or a casino facility provider must obtain the permission of the relevant authority, on the basis that: (i) major holders of such voting rights, shares or interests may materially affect the casino business operator’s casino business, or the casino facility provider’s casino facility management or lease business, by exercising their rights as holders of these voting rights, shares or interests; and (ii) they receive distributions from the casino’s profits. Licensed casino business operators and licensed casino facility operators must periodically file with the commission a list of all holders of voting rights, shares or interests, pursuant to the rules of the commission.

To maintain casino business operators’ integrity and exclude anti-social forces from casino operations, casino business operators must only enter into contracts with counterparties who satisfy certain eligibility criteria, such as having sufficient social credibility and not being categorised as an anti-social force. To achieve this purpose, a casino business operator must obtain the permission of the commission if it wishes to enter into: (i) contracts regarding a casino business or any other relevant business within a casino activity area (i.E., the provision of food and drinks, concerts and other entertainment and goods); (ii) contracts delegating the operation of the business of the casino business operator; (iii) contracts for fundraising; (iv) contracts for the lease of a facility by the casino business operator; and (v) contracts whose term or consideration exceeds the threshold period or amount that is set forth in the rules of the commission. Similarly, a casino facility provider can only enter into contracts with persons who satisfy certain eligibility criteria that are similar to those described above, and must obtain the approval of the commission if it wishes to enter into: (a) contracts regarding the lease of a casino facility; (b) contracts delegating the operation of the business of the casino facility provider; (c) contracts for fundraising; and (d) contracts whose term or consideration exceeds the threshold period or amount that is set forth in the rules of the commission. Likewise, the owner of any land that is used for IR/casino facilities must obtain the permission of the commission if it wishes to transfer or continue to own the land or create a lease or any other right over it.

Furthermore, to ensure the sound operation of casino businesses, casino-related equipment providers must obtain the approval of the commission if they wish to manufacture, import or sell casino-related equipment. In addition, on the basis that the quality and functionality of casino-related equipment affect the sound operation of casino businesses, casino-related equipment providers shall comply with technical standards for casino equipment. Casino-related equipment providers also have to (a) pass an inspection of electro-magnetic casino-related equipment that is conducted by an inspection institute and designated by the commission, and (b) examine non-electro-magnetic casino-related equipment on their own and report the result of such examination to the commission.

2.3 what is the process of applying for a licence for a relevant product?

The certified IR operator will file with the commission an application for a licence for casino business operation, and the commission will examine whether such applicant satisfies certain eligibility criteria, such as its capability to operate a casino business in terms of human resources, social credibility, financial stability, anticipated profitability, the floor area for casino activities, the technological quality of the casino facility’s structure and equipment, the technological quality of the casino-related equipment and certain other factors. If the IR operator satisfies these criteria, the commission will grant a licence for casino business operation. Strict background checks on the casino business operator’s officers, directors, employees, subsidiaries, affiliated companies and other relevant persons and entities (including external persons who have a controlling power over any casino operation) will be carried out during the above licensing process. Detailed information will be required to be submitted to the commission to check the integrity and soundness of the IR operator’s business, and out-of-pocket expenses for such background checks will be borne by the applicant.

2.4 are any restrictions placed upon licensees in your jurisdiction?

Only one casino facility may be opened within one IR area and the maximum floor area of casino activity will be regulated by a cabinet order (which is expected to be 3% of the total floor area of the IR area).

After completion of the construction of the relevant casino facility, the licensed casino business operator will file with the commission an application for an inspection of the casino-related equipment, tools, computer programs and recording media including such programs, and it will not be able to commence the operation of the casino facility until it has passed this inspection.

The licensed casino business operator will have to establish and comply with the following internal rules: (a) the rules of the method of business operation; (b) the terms of use of the casino facility; (c) the rules for the prevention of problem gambling; and (d) the rules for the prevention of the transfer of criminal proceeds (anti-money laundering).

Every three months, the licensed casino business operator must report to the commission on the status of the casino operation and the casino facility. In addition, whenever it finds any unlawful activity or material breach of laws and regulations, it must report it to the commission without delay. Furthermore, every fiscal year, the licensed casino business operator must report to the commission on its casino-related financial business (i.E., details of (i) money transfers between customers’ own accounts and customers’ accounts that are managed by the licensed casino business operators, (ii) receipts of money from customers, (iii) money lending to customers, and (iv) its currency exchange business).

The licensed casino business operator is prohibited from having a third party operate its casino business in the name of the licensed casino business operator. With regard to the delegation of the operation of a casino business, in general, a casino business (including its pertinent businesses) must be conducted exclusively by the licensed casino business operator and only (a) the maintenance or repair of casino-related equipment, (b) the collection of casino-related debt from customers, and (c) certain other activities may be delegated to a third party in accordance with the commission’s rules, on the condition that contracts pertaining to such delegation must be approved by the commission. Similarly, the casino business operator may have a third party provide goods or services within its casino facilities; again, on the condition that contracts pertaining to the delegation of the provision of such goods or services must be approved by the commission.

If the licensed casino business operator wishes to carry out a merger (by which the casino business operator will be extinguished and the casino business operation will be succeeded by the surviving or new company), corporate split or transfer of its casino business, it must file with the commission an application for the approval of such transaction.

2.5 please give a summary of the following features of any licences: (i) duration; (ii) vulnerability to review, suspension or revocation.

The duration of the minister’s authorisation on the IR implem-entation plan is initially 10 years and, thereafter, it shall be renewed every five years. Local municipal council’s approval will be necessary for the initial and every renewed authorisation. Risk of suspension of the IR/casino project due to disapproval by the municipal council upon such renewal is a big open issue (“article 10 issue”).

The duration of a casino business licence is three years and a renewal will be required to extend it for another three years, so that the commission can check that the licensee has maintained its integrity.

The casino business licence may be revoked by the commission: (a) if the licence was obtained by making a false statement or by using any other unjust means; (b) if the licensed casino business operator has not commenced its casino operation business within six months after passing the inspection of the constructed casino facility; (c) if the casino operation business has been suspended for six months or more without any justifiable reason; or (d) in certain other cases.

If the certification of the relevant IR area implementation plan is revoked, or if the licence of the relevant casino facility provider is revoked or invalid, then the licence of the casino business will also be automatically revoked.

2.6 by relevant product, what are the key limits on providing services to customers? Please include in this answer any material promotion and advertising restrictions.

(a) entry into casino facility: the maximum number of entries into casino facilities by customers, other than non-resident foreigners, is three times per week and 10 times per 28 days, in order to prevent any increase in the number of problem gamblers. One entry will be counted if a customer enters the casino after the lapse of 24 hours since the previous entry.

(b) customers’ ID: when customers enter or exit the casino activity area, their identity must be confirmed by the casino business operator, and certain ineligible customers will be prevented from entering the casino activity area. Customers other than japanese non-resident customers, or short-stay foreigners, must use statutorily required individual number cards (so-called “my number cards”) to prove their identities, while non-resident japanese or short-stay foreigners may use their passports or other forms of ID.

(c) types of gaming: the commission will set forth in its rules the specific types and methods of permissible gaming (i.E., activities involving a competition for gaining or losing money depending upon coincidental factors, which may be conducted between the casino business operator and the customers or among the customers themselves using equipment or tools installed in a place within the same facility), which are socially acceptable to ensure the public’s trust in, and understanding of, the sound operation of casino businesses, taking into consideration the current status of gaming in foreign countries.

(d) promotion and advertisement: in order to prevent problem gambling and maintain the sound upbringing of young people, good morals, a clean entertainment environment and the protection of customers, (i) false or over-exaggerated expressions and explanations, (ii) expressions and explanations which may not be objectively proven to be true, and (iii) expressions and explanations which may violate good morals or damage a clean entertainment environment are prohibited; and the installation of signboards, posters and other advertisements, as well as the distribution of leaflets concerning casinos, are prohibited outside the IR area. In particular, for the sound upbringing of young people, the distribution of leaflets and the solicitation of minors to visit casinos are prohibited, irrespective of whether it takes place outside or inside the IR area. Furthermore, every advertisement or promotion of a casino business or a casino facility shall contain (a) a warning regarding the connection between the use of casinos and problem gambling, and (b) a notice that minors’ entry into casinos is prohibited. Furthermore, the casino business operator must (a) educate and train its employees to comply with these rules, (b) create internal compliance rules, (c) appoint persons in charge of activities that are necessary for compliance with these rules, and (d) appoint persons to audit such activities. The commission may order any person who makes any advertisements or promotion that is in violation of these rules to suspend or correct such advertisements or promotion by a certain deadline.

(e) comps: although complimentary items (“comps”) may be useful to solicit foreign tourists and VIP customers, the provision of comps whose types, method of provision or amounts are so excessive that they might be against good morals is prohibited for casino business operators and other business entities. Casino business operators are obligated to keep records of (a) the dates on which comps are provided or exchanged with chips, (b) the names of the customers who received or exchanged such comps, and (c) the amounts and types of comps provided or exchanged with chips. In addition, casino business operators must properly recognise the content, economic value and method of provision of comps by third parties and must take measures that are necessary to ensure that such comps are appropriately provided by third parties. Furthermore, the casino business operator must (i) educate and train its employees to comply with these rules, (ii) create internal compliance rules, (iii) appoint persons in charge of activities for compliance with these rules, and (iv) appoint persons who will audit such activities. The maximum amount of giveaways provided under article 4 of the act against unjustifiable premiums and misleading representations (law no. 134 of 1962, as amended) is not applicable to comps provided by the casino business operator that are pertinent to its casino activities.

(f) junket business: in some countries, marketing/promotion, gaming (on casino floors rented or leased from casino operators) and money lending/collection and other casino activities to wealthy customers are collectively categorised and statutorily regulated as “junket business”. However, in japan, casino activities including junket business can only be conducted by licensed casino business operators. Therefore, there are no special rules regarding junket business in the IR implementation law and each activity of junket business is regulated by the relevant general rule.

2.7 what are the tax and other compulsory levies?

The casino business operator bears: (a) a floating national tax, the amount of which is (i) 15% of the GGR (which is composed of (X) the aggregate chip amount received from customers, less the amount refunded to customers, and (Y) the profit gained from betting among customers) per month, and (ii) a fixed tax which covers the administrative expenses of the committee; and (b) a floating municipal tax, the amount of which is 15% of the GGR per month. The casino business operator shall pay these taxes to the japanese government on a monthly basis, by a specific day of each month.

The japanese government and the relevant municipal body impose entrance fees on customers other than non-resident foreigners entering casino facilities, in the amount of 3,000 yen as the national entrance fee and 3,000 yen as the municipal entrance fee (6,000 yen in total). The casino business operator shall collect these entrance fees from customers upon their entry into casino facilities for the japanese government and the municipal body, and shall pay such amount to the japanese government on a monthly basis by a specific day of each month.

2.8 what are the broad social responsibility requirements?

Since the gambling licence is a privilege, the licensed operator shall have high standards of ethics and integrity, and shall take measures that are necessary to ensure responsible gambling, the protection of minors, anti-money laundering and certain other public interest policies.

2.9 how do any AML, financial services regulations or payment restrictions restrict or impact on entities supplying gambling? Does your jurisdiction permit virtual currencies to be used for gambling and are they separately regulated?

(a) AML: members of organised crime groups, or those who used to be members of organised crime groups during the last five years, are prohibited from entering casino facilities. The casino business operator must: (i) pursue know-your-customer (“KYC”) procedures (confirmation of the identities of customers, the purposes of their transactions, the professions or business purposes and identities of the persons controlling judicial entities); (ii) keep records of transactions; and (iii) notify the authority of any transaction that is suspected to be a transfer of criminal proceeds. In addition, the casino business operator must: (iv) take measures that are necessary to prohibit the transfer of chips among customers and the carrying of chips from within the casino facilities to outside; (v) show signs stating that “the transfer or carrying of chips from within the casino facilities to outside is prohibited” in the area of verification of customers’ identification, as well as the area of casino activities; and (vi) notify the commission of any delivery of chips or other casino-business-related transactions that accompany the payment or receipt of cash exceeding a certain amount.

To comply with these rules, casino business operators must: (i) establish internal rules for the prevention of transfers of criminal proceeds, which set forth clear procedures for the above measures; (ii) take measures to update, from time to time, information regarding matters that need to be verified when conducting casino transactions (e.G., details of identification documents that are required from customers, etc.); (iii) provide education and training to employees; (iv) put in place a system for implementing anti-money laundering measures, such as the appointment of a supervising manager; (v) conduct self-evaluations and internal audits concerning their anti-money laundering measures; and (vi) take any other measures that are required under the rules of the commission.

(b) credit card/atms/money lending and other financial activities: to prevent problem gambling, only non-resident foreigners are permitted to purchase chips using credit cards. For the same reason, automatic teller machines (“atms”) are not permitted to be installed within casino facilities, and only atms without money-lending functions are permitted to be installed in areas surrounding casino facilities. To enhance customers’ convenience, (i) money transfers, (ii) receipts of money, (iii) money lending to customers, (iv) currency exchanges, and (v) other incidental activities are permissible subject to (I) certain restrictions, such as the prohibition of excessive loan collection measures, (II) the requirement to pay a deposit to make money transfers, etc., and (III) other regulations that are similar to those under the money lending act or the payment service act (for the purpose of preventing money laundering, all money transfers and receipts carried out by casino business operators upon customers’ requests are only carried out via financial institutions, and each customer’s deposit is only transferred to that customer’s own account).

In addition, considering that money lending might accelerate problem gambling, access to money borrowing is only available to (a) customers who have the financial capability to deposit with the casino business operator cash exceeding a certain amount, and (b) non-resident foreign customers. Also, to prevent excessive lending, casino business operators shall check customers’ capabilities to repay their loans and shall set a separate cap on the loan amount for each customer.

3. Online/mobile/digital/electronic media

3.1 how does local law/regulation affect the provision of the relevant products in online/mobile/digital/electronic form, both from: (i) operators located inside your jurisdiction; and (ii) operators located outside your jurisdiction?

(i) in order to strictly manage entry into casino facilities and prevent problem gambling, only casino activities that are conducted within casino facilities are permitted under the IR implementation law. Therefore, online casino activities, whose operators and players are located within japan but outside the casino facilities, are not permitted.

(ii) it is not clear whether japanese residents are permitted to use online casino services whose operators are located and licensed outside japan, but it may be prosecuted as an illegal gambling if betting is carried out within japan. In 2016, a certain number of users of foreign online casino services were arrested and charged for committing the crime of gambling. Meanwhile, in 2017, there was a case where a user of a foreign online casino service was investigated and his home was searched by the police, but ultimately this user was not prosecuted.

3.2 what other restrictions have an impact on relevant products supplied via online/mobile/digital/electronic means?

Online gambling is still illegal even after the IR implementation law became effective. Please see questions 1.1 and 3.1 above.

3.3 what terminal/machine-based gaming is permitted and where?

Terminal/machine-based gambling is prohibited, unless it is conducted by a licensed casino business operator within its casino facilities.

4. Enforcement and liability

4.1 who is liable under local law/regulation?

In general, the operator of the casino facility is liable for any breach of the relevant gambling legislation. If the breach is so material that it constitutes illegal gambling, then criminal sanctions might be imposed upon the customer (for the conduct of gambling), as well as the operator of the casino facility (for gaining a profit by operating a place for gambling) under the penal code of japan.

4.2 what form does enforcement action take in your jurisdiction?

The commission might impose administrative sanctions, such as the issuance of an order requiring the revocation of a licence, the suspension of a business, improvements to be made to a business, etc. If a case involves serious wrongdoing, a prosecutor might investigate the case and bring criminal proceedings for gambling offences.

4.3 do other non-national laws impact upon liability and enforcement?

There are no treaties or other international laws which may have an impact upon liability or enforcement.

4.4 are gambling debts enforceable in your jurisdiction?

Debts which arise from illegal gambling are not enforceable. However, once such debts are paid, the debtor may not be able to claim to recover them. Meanwhile, debts which arise from legal gambling would be enforceable.

4.5 what appetite for and track record of enforcement does your local regulatory authority have? Have fines, licence revocations or other sanctions been enforced in your jurisdiction?

While the commission is not yet established, it is expected that the regulations under the IR implementation law will be strictly enforced by the commission.

5. Anticipated reforms

5.1 what (if any) intended changes to the gambling law/regulations are being discussed currently?

Under the IR implementation law, up to three IR areas will be initially approved by the minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism. It is currently expected that (a) the japanese government will publish the principal policy after autumn 2019 (which was delayed due to the national election held in july 2019), (b) the candidate municipal bodies will publish the implementation policy thereafter, (c) the candidate municipal bodies will choose IR/casino business operators after spring 2020, (d) the candidate municipal bodies and IR/casino business operators will apply for authorisation on the IR area implementation plan by the japanese government, and the japanese government will approve the initial three IR areas in around 2021, and (e) the first batch of IR/casinos will be opened in around 2024, at the earliest.

Candidate municipal bodies are already actively pursuing requests for concept (“RFC”), requests for investment (“RFI”) or other processes as preparation for the filing of an application for a governmental authorisation of the IR area implementation plan, while private casino business operators are mulling over the candidate IR area in which they will make an application for selection, the concept of the IR/casino business plan and the composition of the consortium that they should establish to build and operate their IR/casino facilities, and are selecting consortium business partners.

Online gambling in japan

Online gambling in japan, similar to other asian countries, is a huge legal grey area. There are blanket laws banning most types of physical gambling in japan, as mentioned in chapter 23 of the japanese criminal code (quoted below), but online gambling in japan generally goes unchallenged by the government and there is no public records or major cases where people have been prosecuted for betting, wagering or playing casino games online.

Article 185. (gambling)
A person who gambles shall be punished by a fine of not more than 500,000 yen or a petty fine; provided, however, that the same shall not apply to a person who bets a thing which is provided for momentary entertainment.

Since 1907, however, exceptions have been made allowing gambling on horse racing, bicycle races, motorbike and various other motorsports. Games such as pachinko, mahjong, toto and the lottery – all built around the thrill of a gamble – are classified as ‘amusements’ and as such fall under separate laws from casinos, sports bookies, bingo operators and poker houses.

Due to these restrictions, it is not uncommon to see japanese citizens traveling to macau casinos to gamble, just as you do chinese and taiwanese citizens.

Is online gambling illegal in japan according to law?

Online gambling in japan is illegal, just as physical gambling is illegal. No licenses have been granted to companies allowing them to operate online gambling websites from within japan, and the government actively tries to prevent its citizens from accessing and using foreign gambling websites.

Japanese players gamble online regardless, and onlinegambling.Co provides you with the information you need to get your gambling fix, whatever country you’re in!

Best online casinos for japanese players

Online casinos that accept japanese players!

Our #1 online japanese casino choice, 32red, accept japanese yen (¥) and offer casino games that are playable in japanese language. 32red offer the choice between downloading their casino software or playing instantly via your web browser.

They give you a choice of 350+ casino games including blackjack, multi vegas downtown, vegas single deck, triple pocket hold’em, hold’em high, premier roulette, craps, pai gow poker & many more. If you sign up now, they are offering a special sign up bonus of ¥2500/$32 for every $20/¥1500 deposited. That means if you deposit $100, you receive a huge $160 bonus! Visit www.32red.Com now!

Play pachinko online

Pachinko (pronounced puh-ching-koh) is a japanese pinball game played on vertical machines in which the aim is for the player to try and control where a small steel ball goes using a series of levers. Some pachinko machines can process up to 100 balls per minute, and the game ends either when the player looses all of their steel balls or the player decides to cash out and turn in their steel balls in exchange for prizes, which range from small widgets such as cigarette lighters to expensive items like computers, electric scooters and bicycles.

As gambling is outlawed in japan, gamblers often opt to accept nondescript tokens as their prizes, which can be exchanged for cash via unofficial operations outside the legal pachinko parlors.

There are about 13,000 pachinko parlors in japan, where you’ll find dozens of pachinko machines crammed closely together and gamers playing for hours on end in very noisy settings.

The owners of onlinegambling much prefer to play the exciting game of pachinko online for real money, from the comfort of their kitchen table rather then the bustling, and often overwhelming, japanese pachinko parlors.

The best place to play pachinko online is www.32red.Com casino – who offer the most realistic video pachinko game we’ve seen anywhere online. The game has 8 different rounds, each with its own features and pay table, and you can cash in after any round or play through to the end, if you dare, for the possibility of huge payouts.

Mobile casinos in japan

Mobile casinos let players play their favorite gambling games with them wherever they are, from pachinko & slots to video poker, blackjack, roulette, or even horse race wagering. Considering how advanced mobile phone technology is in japan, it is no surprise that they lead the way in terms of gaming technology and gambling options available on the go.

With the japanese government considering a move to open up its market to casino gambling – online, physical location and mobile – it is very likely that we will see huge advancements in the mobile gaming industry in japan over the next year. The move is driven by american gambling interests and the success of other casino centers in asia such as macau. The japanese government is trying to put an end to its economic slump by investing in new growth industries such as mobile gaming and casinos.

According to takeshi iwaya, lawmaker from the japanese liberal democratic party, the government claims the new casino ruling will help promote tourism, encourage business, create jobs, and boost local development.

New laws in japan, alongside the touch screen displays available on new smart phones like the iphone and android today are leading to a whole new gameplay experience being introduced, adding a new level of interaction to classic casino games that was not possible just a few years ago. There are multiple japanese mobile casinos that offer gameplay in either english or japanese and accept wagers in japanese yen (¥) and/or US dollars ($).

Japan live dealer casinos

There are three universal casino types, land-based which are physical casinos that you can walk into; RNG or random number generator online casinos where the game is created by a computer, as is the spin of the wheel or the cards being dealt and finally, live dealer online casinos that feature a video feed from a real dealer who is dealing cards and performing other casino duties like in a land based casino.

Live dealer casinos that allow players to take part in games like live roulette, live blackjack and live baccarat are in high demand by japanese gamblers. Onlinegambling.Co recommends 32red for playing live blackjack, baccarat, and roulette from japan. They accept japanese yen (¥) and offer live casino games in japanese audio, video and text. Www.32red.Com offer video feeds from a microgaming dealer betting room, and if you sign up now they are offering a ¥2500/$32 bonus for every $20/¥1500 deposited. That means if you deposit $100, you receive a $160 bonus!

Japanese online horse racing (keiba) betting

21,000+ horse races happen every year in japan, all are either of the flat racing/traditional type, jump racing (races over hurdles), or ban’ei/draft racing (horses pulling heavily-weighted sleds and jockeys up sand ramps).

Many japanese horses have been entered in overseas races and foreign horses are increasingly being purchased to compete in japan, famously brought to light recently when two japanese-trained horses (victoire pisa and transcend) pulled off an incredible one-two win in the dubai world cup in march 2011.

Popular japanese race courses

There are over 30 major horse racing tracks in japan, all run by the japan racing association (e.G. Tokyo, chukyo and fukushima racecourses) and the national association of racing (e.G. Arao racecourse, asahikawa racecourse and fukuyama racecourses). Three race tracks in particular are very well known, even in international circles, and are popular venues for online and offline gamblers who like a punt.

Chukyo racecourse

Located in toyoake, aichi, japann, this track has a relatively short history after only being constructed in 1994. Chukyo has quickly risen to be the premier venue of the japan racing scene.

There is two race tracks at chukyo racecourse, a dirt track and a grass track. The turf track oval has a circumference of 1600 metres. Race distances accommodated at the track include 2800m, 2500m, 2000m, 1800m, 1700m, 1200m, and 1000 metres. The dirt track on the other hand has a circumference of 1418 metres and is able to accommodate races at 1000 metres, 1600 metres, 1700 metres, and 2300 metres.

Noteworthy events held at chukyo that are worth betting on include:

Grade I international race takamatsunomiya kinen, held annually in march and run over a distance of 1200 metres on turf

Grade II international race the tokai stakes run over a distance of 2300 metres on dirt and held annually in may

Grade II international kinko sho run on turf over 2000 metres each may

Grade III chukyo kinen handicap run over 2000 metres on turf in march

Takamatsunomiya kinen betting
perhaps the most popular of all races taking place at chukyo, with the best odds available, is the takamatsunomiya kinen (高松宮記念), a grade 1 horse race held over a distance of 1200 meters (approximately 6 furlongs) and reserved for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds. The race is held annually in march and never has any problems attracting thousands of punters, both japanese and foreign.

With the huge prize money purse of ¥202,350,000, this race attracts many of the best jockeys and trainers from europe, australia, new zealand and the united states and has huge appeal with online betters worldwide.

Nakayama racecourse

The extremely popular nakayama racecourse venue is located in funabashi, chiba, japan. Built in 1990, nakayama features a dirt track, a jumps track, and two turf tracks. Some of the more notable races held at nakayama racecourse include:

Grade I sprinters stakes held in september/october, run over a distance of 1200 metres on turf

Arima kinen held in december run over 2500 metres on turf

Grade II nakayama kinen held in february or march annually over 1800 metres on turf

Grade II nikkei sho held in march over 2500 metres on turf

All comers in september over 2200 metres on turf

The JPN II american jockey club cup in january over 2200 metres on turf

Are superior horse racing odds available in japan?

In a word, yes. Foreign betting markets like those available in japan are offering superior odds to australian, european/UK & other western markets. Online betters are all ready starting to see huge benefits from placing wagers on events within the horse racing japan market. Take the races held at the chukyo racecourse each year, particularly the takamatsunomiya kinen held annually in march and the tokai stakes in may, both races that have seen huge international punter and online gambling interest.

Real money japanese poker websites

While poker is illegal in japan (there are no physical poker rooms or casinos anywhere in japan, and all card/table games are banned), poker games do take place inside illegal, underground casinos often run by the yakuza.

Online poker is an even stranger legal grey area in japan, the government does not use IP filtering or firewalls like thailand and china to block it’s inhabitants from gambling online. Online poker tournaments occur very regularly in japan as well, with everest poker hosting events like the everest poker japan cup. Some of the european poker sites have been known to block players trying to connect from japanese IP’s however, but all in all connecting to and playing poker online in japan for real money is relatively easy compared to other asian nations.

I have personally used the following poker sites in japan to play for real money: full tilt, poker stars, titan, victor chandler, cdpoker, party poker, everest and pokerroom. In all cases I used neteller for my transactions. The pre-paid neteller card works for pretty much all of my withdrawl and online shopping needs. Issue arise, however, when making deposits.

Withdrawing & depositing money

No japanese credit cards will work when making deposits on gambling websites (neteller included) as the major japanese banks block them. This is easily bypassed by using pokerstars and the local bank transfer option. You can put money into your pokerstars account using this bank transfer option, and if you decide to deposit cash on another site, withdraw it through neteller and deposit it where ever you like.

The government in japan is currently discussing the 100% legalization of land-based casinos (follow the onlinegambling.Co blog for international gambling news and insight), which is likely to mean that japanese players will soon find it a lot easier to play online poker for real money.

Best online japanese sportsbooks & betting sites

Race betting – including bicycle, horse, boat, and motorcycle racing – is one of the few legal forms of gambling in all of japan. Horse racing (covered above) is of course the most popular.

Professional J-league football betting is also legally possible in japan as part of the national lottery system, entitled toto. Toto is not quite like fixed-odds sports betting that online and western sportsbooks usually offer, it is more comparable to a standard lottery that uses results from football matches. Toto wagers can be made online.

There are no legal online sportsbooks in japan, so japanese gamblers are forced to use foreign sports betting sites to place wagers. Onlinegambling has personally used and recommends the sportsbooks listed below, all of the websites listed accept sports bets in japanese yen (¥) and we have included notes on the websites various language options available.