Online casinos have long existed in a legal grey area in Japan. While gambling is generally prohibited under the Penal Code, overseas-based online casino operators have been able to reach Japanese users without facing direct enforcement, until recently. Over the past year, the Japanese government and law enforcement agencies have begun cracking down harder on online gambling activity, shifting public perception and tightening the net around users, operators, and even influencers.
This article includes insights from Hideki Nakata, an expert in the Japanese online casino scene and head editor of Online Casino Japan, whose experience and analysis helped shape the understanding of both the legal shifts and the technical implications discussed here.
The Changing Landscape of Online Casinos in Japan
For years, online casinos operated in a kind of loophole: they were based overseas and technically didn’t fall under Japanese jurisdiction, even though their services were clearly targeting Japanese players. This ambiguity allowed many Japanese people to participate in online gambling without much concern. Influencers even openly streamed themselves playing online casino games on platforms like YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), gaining huge followings.
But that’s changing. Recently, Japanese police have started arresting not only players but also influencers who promote online casinos. Well-known names such as “ストマック” and “勇者トロ” have faced legal consequences for their promotional content. The authorities are now treating the use and advertisement of these platforms as criminal acts, essentially signaling that online casinos.
This shift is not just about individual arrests. It reflects a broader government strategy to curb the growing popularity of online gambling, especially among younger users. And now, Japan is considering more aggressive digital measures to stop access altogether.
The Possibility of Site Blocking in Japan
One of the proposed ideas being floated is the use of site blocking to prevent access to online casinos. The concept is simple: restrict Japanese users from accessing specific URLs known to host online gambling platforms. This is already in place for child pornography sites, and some policymakers are arguing for similar measures against online casinos.
However, implementing site blocking in Japan is not straightforward.
Japan has traditionally taken a very cautious approach to internet censorship. Unlike countries such as China or Russia, where state-controlled internet is the norm, Japan has strong legal protections for freedom of communication and privacy. The government can’t simply order ISPs to block a site without facing legal and constitutional challenges.
In fact, when the Japanese government first attempted site blocking in 2018 for pirated manga websites, it sparked huge backlash from internet providers, legal scholars, and even the general public. Many warned it could set a dangerous precedent for government censorship. Even now, only child pornography websites are legally blocked, and that decision came after years of legal debate and societal consensus.
Blocking online casino sites would be a significant escalation and a controversial one. Experts have raised concerns about:
- Effectiveness: Many users could easily bypass blocks using VPNs or mirror sites.
- Legal challenges: Site blocking might violate Article 21 of Japan’s Constitution, which guarantees the secrecy of communication.
- Technical burden: Monitoring and maintaining blocks across thousands of gambling domains would be a logistical nightmare.
Despite these concerns, the growing popularity of online casinos, especially among young adults, is putting pressure on lawmakers to act. Some see site blocking as a necessary evil to protect vulnerable users, while others argue it would be a symbolic gesture at best and a dangerous infringement on internet freedom at worst.
What’s Next?
Japan is clearly entering a new phase in its approach to online gambling. What was once an unregulated grey zone is becoming a tightly monitored and increasingly restricted area of the internet. But whether the government will go as far as implementing site blocks remains to be seen.
There’s a delicate balance to be struck. On one hand, authorities want to protect users from the risks of unlicensed gambling. On the other hand, any move to restrict internet access could raise serious ethical and legal issues.
For now, the crackdown is happening through arrests and public pressure, but the conversation around site blocking will likely grow louder. Whether Japan decides to follow through or finds alternative solutions will depend on how the public, legal experts, and internet providers respond in the coming months.
