• Japan is reaching out to overseas jurisdictions in a bid to gain access to offshore online gambling sites.
• The country’s authorities have already been clamping down on illegal gambling by targeting citizens
• A change of tact may be needed to succeed in fully shielding citizens from the influence of offshore gambling

Japanese authorities have engaged with overseas regulators and jurisdictions in a bid to limit the clout of offshore gambling websites that have been targeting customers in the country without relevant permission, local media Mainichi originally reported

Japan goes after real bad guys in offshore gambling case

Online gambling is illegal in Japan, and therefore, any online casinos, or sports betting platforms for that matter, are not allowed in the country in the first place, even though many websites continue to target locals.

As of this week, Japan is moving to crack down on illegal gambling websites and has reached out to numerous jurisdictions, including Curacao, Isle of Man , Gibraltar, AnjouanIsland in the Comoros, Canada, Georgia, Malta, and CostaRica.

Each of these jurisdictions is said to host websites that have tailored their offer to target Japanese citizens by offering the local currency, the yen, and offering a user interface available in Japanese. However, these websites are not legally allowed to operate in the country.

Commenting on this, Matej Novota, Casino Guru's Head of Casino Research, said: "I am watching with bated breath as the Japanese government attempts to tackle the growing influence of illegal online gambling on the local market. If they succeed, it could serve as a valuable model for other countries where gambling is prohibited. However, history suggests that in such battles, governments often find themselves at a disadvantage, and after years of struggle, sensible regulation eventually emerges. It will be an intriguing conflict, and I am keen to see how it unfolds."

An analysis that identified 40 online casinos found out that nearly all platforms – bar two – had notified any incoming users that they were not allowed to gamble legally if they were based in Japan.

Furthermore, Japan is actively moving to restrict its citizens' ability to play and gamble online at such websites, not only by reaching out to overseas regulators and authorities, but also by targeting its own citizens.

Citizens, beware – online gambling is prohibited in any form

The country’s police have arrested dozens, if not hundreds, of ordinary people, and celebrities, over the past weeks, in a renewed bid to stamp out illegal gambling. Under Japanese law, a person who gambles online is found similarly guilty of breaking the law as is the platform that operates such products.

A recent police survey indicates that as many as 3m people may actually be engaging in online gambling, and the amount wagered could be reaching as much as 1.24 trillion yen, roughly $8.6bn. Japan has moved on to arrest a number of prominent members of society, including athletes, comedians, and musicians, all of whom were charged with overseas gambling.

Japan has also arrested big spenders, i.e., high rollers, who have also been gambling online. In one such instance, an arrestee said that they played because they did not expect to be caught – they thought they were one of many people to have been gambling online despite the prohibition.

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