Key points:
- Japanese Parliament passes bill to ban sites linking users to illegal gambling platforms
- Authorities aim to curb addiction, debt and money laundering risks
- Legislation takes effect three months after promulgation
Japan has passed new legislation aimed at clamping down on illegal online gambling, with lawmakers targeting intermediary websites and social media content that direct users to unauthorised online casinos.
As reported by The Mainichi, the move is part of a broader government effort to limit exposure to unregulated gambling services, which are considered both a social risk and a potential avenue for organised crime.
The revised law, enacted on Wednesday, prohibits digital content and sites that promote or link users to online gambling platforms, even if the casinos are legally operated overseas.
Although such sites may not be physically based in Japan, accessing them remains illegal under domestic law. The new measures empower the government to request takedowns of any content that encourages or facilitates participation in these services.
Good to know: Police estimate that around 3 million people in Japan have used illegal gambling platforms. An estimated ¥1.24trn (US$8.6bn) is spent annually on online gambling within the country
The reforms follow a string of high-profile cases involving celebrities and athletes who were found to have engaged with offshore gambling platforms. These cases have heightened public awareness and prompted calls for tighter oversight.
The new legislation is set to take effect three months from its official promulgation, giving authorities time to prepare enforcement mechanisms and awareness campaigns.
Lawmakers hope the stricter controls will deter casual access, reduce problem gambling and limit the use of gambling services as a means of laundering money or funding illicit activities.
