According to Japanese news media, the NPA will share its investigation results with the relevant authorities, as the first step towards regulating access to said gambling sites and measures to tackle addiction and the problems arising from it.
The NPA will investigate operators of online casinos targeting Japanese people. It will identify the locations of said operators, monetary transaction processes and trails, plus the number of visits to sites from Japan.
The agency will also conduct a survey with more than 7,000 people in Japan, ranging from teenagers to elderly in their 70s. A report will be compiled on online casino use by the end of the year.
While certain forms of gambling were allowed in Japan, online gambling remains illegal, even if the operators/service providers were legal operations offshore. It is a widespread misconception that gambling sites operating legally outside of Japan are legal for use in Japan.
According to the Tokyo-based Society Concerned about Gambling Addiction, online casinos accounted for 20.3% of consultations with the society in 2023, a 4.3% increase from 2019; with many being young people.
Meanwhile, Australia has stepped up in its effort to protect its people against illegal gambling and its ill effects, starting with ACMA’s frequent efforts in combating illegal activities and the push from Australia’s own companies to protect its vulnerable people from unhealthy gambling effects.
