Japan approves new plan against online gambling
The plan proposes tougher penalties for payment collection services and people who promote offshore gambling sites.
Japan.- Prime minister Shigeru Ishiba’s cabinet has approved a new plan intended to curb online gambling. The move after a survey conducted by Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA) found that 3.37 million people in the country gambled at online casinos, spending around JPY1.24tn (US$8.4bn) annually.
According to The Japan Times, the plan includes tougher penalties for payment collection services and for those who promote online casinos and receive a commission for referrals. It would ban online casino ads and introduction sites The government will also introduce new social media ads reminding people that online casino gambling is illegal.
However, Noriko Tanaka, representative director of The Society Concerned about the Gambling Addiction has said the government needs to do more. She said: “The government says online casinos will be subject to stricter controls. But what exactly will this involve? In order to enforce stricter controls, it will be necessary to take legislative action.”
Online gambling in Japan is illegal and can be punished with fines of up to JNY500,000 (US$3,282) and prison sentences of up to three years. A land-based casino is in development in Osaka and horse racing betting is allowed in Japan.
