Japan Starts Fight Against Illegal Online Gambling Addiction
Japan is intensifying its efforts against illegal online gambling amid rising addiction rates. On March 21, 2025, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Cabinet approved a comprehensive strategy to combat this growing issue. The plan focuses on disrupting the financial and promotional networks supporting unauthorized gambling operations, including stricter enforcement against payment processors and affiliates promoting these platforms. Additionally, the government aims to raise public awareness about the illegality and dangers of online gambling through targeted social media campaigns and by encouraging businesses to eliminate related advertisements. This initiative responds to alarming statistics indicating that approximately 3.37 million Japanese residents have accessed offshore gambling platforms, with 1.97 million active users wagering around ¥1.2 trillion ($8.07 billion) annually. The government is also considering additional restrictions on legal forms of gambling, such as banning credit card payments for public betting activities, to further mitigate addiction risks.
