Synopsis
Despite a nationwide ban, approximately 3.37 million individuals in Japan are involved in online gambling, with spending on illegal activities hitting 1.2 trillion yen annually. A lack of awareness about the legality of these activities contributes to the growing issue of gambling addiction.Key Takeaways
- 3.37 million people in Japan gamble online illegally.
- 1.2 trillion yen is spent annually on illegal gambling.
- 40% of users are unaware of the illegality.
- The average monthly bet is 52,000 yen.
- Japanese police charged 279 individuals in 2024.
Tokyo, March 13 (NationPress) Millions of individuals in Japan are reported to struggle with online gambling addiction, with illegal gambling expenditures reaching 1.2 trillion yen each year, according to a recent police survey.
The Japan National Police Agency's report estimates that approximately 3.37 million individuals in Japan have engaged with overseas online casinos, despite the nation's prohibition. This revelation follows recent incidents involving athletes and celebrities and highlights a significant lack of public awareness regarding its illegality, as reported by local media.
Notably, the survey indicates that around 40 percent of participants were oblivious to the fact that online casinos are illegal; an official from the NPA remarked that this lack of awareness may be driving individuals to engage with online casinos, as noted by The Japan Times.
This survey, commissioned by the police and executed by a research firm, included roughly 27,145 individuals aged 15 to 79 nationwide between July and January. The findings showed that 3.5 percent of respondents had gambled at virtual casinos, translating to about 3.37 million people nationwide. Of these, approximately 1.97 million are still participating in online gambling unlawfully, according to Kyodo News.
The average monthly stake for 500 online gamblers was 52,000 yen, or roughly $350. Collectively, the estimated annual betting total among users across the nation is around 1.24 trillion yen, equivalent to about $8.4 billion.
In a separate investigation of 40 overseas online casino websites presumed to target Japanese users, conducted by the NPA between August last year and January this year, it was discovered that only two explicitly state that participation from Japan is prohibited. Furthermore, eight of these sites were exclusively available in Japanese.
Among the 40 sites examined, the NPA found that over 90 percent of users accessing them were located in Japan, indicating a clear targeting of this demographic, as cited by a senior NPA official in Japan Times.
While Japan is often characterized by its workaholic culture, a growing segment of the population is falling prey to gambling addiction. In 2024, Japanese authorities charged 279 individuals for engaging with online casinos, with many being unaware of the illegal nature of internet gambling.
