Online gambling regulation in Japan

Prohibited. Basic Act on Countermeasures Against Gambling Addiction, as amended 2025, banning presentation of illegal online gambling websites/programs and transmission directing residents to such gambling.

Promotion, advertising or presenting illegal online gambling sites or apps to people in Japan is prohibited from 25 September 2025.

Japan Casino Regulatory Commission (integrated resort casinos); National Police Agency for illegal/online gambling enforcement — www.jcrc.go.jp

Penal Code of Japan (gambling offences); Basic Act on Countermeasures Against Gambling Addiction (Law No.74 of 2018, amended 2025)

Online casino: Prohibited. Online sports betting: Prohibited.

The regulator publishes a register of licensed operators. Japan Casino Regulatory Commission publishes licensed integrated resort casino operators list online.

https://www.jcrc.go.jp/

• Criminal prosecution under Penal Code for operating or facilitating illegal gambling
• Police crackdowns and arrests targeting online casino users and promoters
• Payment blocking measures requested by Financial Services Agency to banks and payment firms
• Online content reporting via Internet Hotline Center coordinated with National Police Agency

• Advertising casino business or facilities must not induce unspecified persons excessively into casino activities
• Casino advertising limited to licensed integrated resort operators and approved facilities
• Promotions must comply with Gambling Addiction Act measures to prevent gambling harm
• Advertising of illegal online gambling or offshore casinos to Japanese residents is expressly prohibited

• June 18 2025 amendment to Gambling Addiction Act effective 25 September 2025, defining and targeting illegal online gambling websites and programs
• 2025 amendments expressly ban promotion and advertising of overseas online casinos and gambling platforms to Japanese residents
• Financial Services Agency’s May 2025 notice urging suspension of payments to online casinos, domestic or overseas

• Exact Penal Code article numbers governing gambling and online gambling not consistently specified across sources
• Detailed section numbers of Gambling Addiction Act provisions on online gambling websites and information transmission not clearly cited
• Whether any prefectural police or ministries maintain separate online public registers for betting or lottery operators
• Whether Japan specifically regulates online mystery boxes/loot boxes as gambling.
• Whether any prediction market is treated as a financial derivative under Japanese law.
• Whether sweepstakes/social casinos with dual-currency systems are separately permitted or banned under a Japan-specific online gaming rule.

1. advennt.io/jurisdictions/japan/
2. japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4749/en
3. dlapiper.com/en-us/insights/publications/2025/10/online-gambling-in-japan---recent-regulatory-developments
4. nagashima.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cp_cpg_gaming_gambling_licensing-2024_japan.pdf
5. japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4612/en
6. igaming-atlas.com/countries/japan
7. iclg.com/practice-areas/gambling-laws-and-regulations/japan
8. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/japan/for-operators
9. pokersitesranking.com/is-online-poker-legal-japan-2026/
10. somuchpoker.com/poker-guides/asia/japan
11. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/japan
12. worldpokerdeals.com/blog/top-5-online-poker-rooms-for-japanese-poker-players
13. pokerrankings.eu/go/japan-en/article/legal-info/
14. is-this-legal.com/is-poker-legal-in-japan/
15. swrnn.com/polymarket/japan
16. coingabbar.com/en/japan-prediction-market-gambling-laws-kalshi-polymarket
17. biz.chosun.com/en/en-international/2026/06/30/ZTDAJ6H3VJE75FMZ4Y3SPKAUUQ/
18. innovationlaw.jp/en/is-polymarket-gambling-or-prediction-infrastructure/
19. news.bitcoin.com/bitbank-drops-polymarket-warning-japan-traders-face-account-suspension-over-betting-deposits/
20. lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=9207df10-a8a2-4f67-81c3-6a148a6100e2
21. chancey.run/blog/is-gachapon-gambling
22. blog.empiredrop.com/mystery-box-laws-by-country-where-are-they-legal/
23. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loot_box
24. morihamada.com/sites/default/files/publications/2024/07/106856.pdf

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.