A bill to tighten regulations on illegal online casinos is likely to be submitted during the current session of Japan’s parliament, the Diet (pictured), reported on Friday the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper. The decision followed a working-level meeting on Thursday between the ruling and opposition parties.
The bill – that could be submitted to the Diet within this month – aims to revise the basic law on countermeasures against gambling addiction in the country. The existing law took effect in October 2018.
According to the media outlet, a key provision of the bill include the prohibition of opening or operating online casino platforms.
In addition to prohibiting the establishment and operation of casinos, the revised bill will also ban advertisements that lead those browsing online to casino sites, or guide them to casino sites through social media networks and other platforms.
According to the news outlet, the government aims to revise the law in order to remove loopholes and clearly define these activities as illegal. It also aims to make it easier for communication providers to remove advertisements and posts at the request of the police and other authorities.
Gambling online is illegal for Japanese, even if the online provider is legally licensed overseas, as per the country’s National Police Agency.
A survey by the agency estimated 3.37 million people in the nation had gambled with online casinos. Data from the survey – published in March, and said to be the country’s first on the topic – also showed that about JPY1.24 trillion (US$8.52 billion currently) in bets were placed annually at online gambling sites.
Japan’s cabinet approved in late March what was termed a basic strategy against gambling addiction, including online play. The overall basic plan on gambling addiction counter measures for the three fiscal years, starts with financial year 2025.
Japan is due to see MGM Osaka, the country’s first land-based integrated resort (IR) with casino, open in late 2030. A ground breaking ceremony for the complex was held in April.
