Japan Faces Surge in Online Gambling Addiction
The rise of online casinos has fueled a important increase in gambling addiction in Japan, with a dramatic surge in consultation requests since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Growing Concerns Over Online Gambling
The Society Concerned about the Gambling Addiction in Tokyo has witnessed an alarming 11-fold increase in consultation requests over the past five years, as reported by japantimes.co.jp. This surge highlights the escalating problem of online gambling addiction in the country.
According to the association, some individuals, desperate to fund their gambling habits, have resorted to seeking out “yami baito,” illegal part-time jobs offered online. This disturbing trend underscores the severity of the issue and the lengths to which some people will go to support their addiction. Noriko Tanaka, head of the association, said:
“I feel a sense of crisis over the current situation in which many people are addicted to gambling and commit crimes. Illegal online casinos must be eradicated.”
Family Impact
The association reports a significant increase in family members seeking advice due to online gambling. Between January and November 2024, 91 individuals reported having family members addicted to online casinos, compared to just eight in 2019 before the pandemic.
The association notes that the 24/7 accessibility of online casinos via smartphones has contributed to the growing number of people becoming addicted to gambling. The convenience of gambling from home has exacerbated the problem.
A survey by the association revealed that 30% of its 681 responding members reported that their family members addicted to gambling had committed criminal acts, such as embezzlement and theft, or had taken illegal jobs through yami baito.
A Mother’s Heartbreak
One woman in her 60s shared her story of her son, who became addicted to gambling in high school and later began extorting money from her. He threatened to commit a crime if she did not send him money, and she has sent him about ¥10 million. He was later arrested for robbery resulting in injury after taking a yami baito job.
The association is urging police to intensify their crackdowns on payment service operators linked to online casinos, aiming to disrupt the financial flow that fuels these illegal activities.
