Japan Moves to Block Access to Illegal Gambling Sites with New Legislation

A New Front in the Fight Against Illegal Gambling

Japan has taken a firmer stance against online gambling by passing a law that directly targets websites and social media platforms that link users to illegal gambling services. The legislation, approved by Parliament on Wednesday, empowers the government to clamp down on intermediary content—whether hosted in Japan or abroad—that promotes or enables access to unauthorised gambling platforms.

While offshore casinos may operate legally in their respective jurisdictions, Japanese law prohibits residents from using such services. The new rules specifically criminalise the act of directing users to these platforms, even in cases where the hosting entity is not subject to Japanese jurisdiction. Authorities will now be able to demand takedowns of digital content that encourages or facilitates participation in illegal gambling activities.

The legislative reform is not just about enforcing gambling laws—it also reflects growing concern over addiction, debt, and money laundering. Lawmakers cited the need to limit casual access to offshore betting platforms, which have become increasingly popular among younger and tech-savvy users.

According to police estimates, around 3 million people in Japan have used illegal gambling platforms, with annual spending reaching an estimated ¥1.24 trillion (approximately $8.6 billion). This has raised red flags across multiple government agencies, especially in light of a number of high-profile scandals involving athletes and public figures caught using offshore casinos.

New Gambling Law to Take Effect in Three Months

The law will come into effect three months after its promulgation, giving the government time to finalise enforcement measures and begin public awareness campaigns. While details on implementation are still emerging, the focus will likely be on surveillance of digital channels, prompt removal of illegal links, and possibly criminal penalties for those maintaining or distributing prohibited content.

In effect, the new measures aim to shut down an informal ecosystem that has, until now, operated in a grey area—technically out of reach of direct prosecution, but widely used by domestic audiences.

Japanese officials hope that by targeting the digital infrastructure behind illegal gambling, they can not only reduce problem gambling rates but also prevent these services from being used to launder money or finance criminal activities.