Japan says no plans to legalise online gambling

A member of Japan’s Public Safety Commission has denied IR developments could pave the way to legalise online gambling.

Japan.- Hachiro Okonogi, chair of the Liberal Democratic Party’s National Public Safety Commission has denied that Japan’s IR developments could be a gateway to the legalisation of online gambling.

Hiroyuki Moriyama of the Constitutional Democratic Party had raised concerns over the possibility after a rise an increase in the use of offshore gaming sites in Japan since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, Okonogi stated: “There are provisions on casino acts in the existing IR Development Act, but it does not include online casinos and they are not subject to this regulation. However, when I was asked at the Cabinet Committee last week, I answered that we would continue to take strict action as the police and Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission.”

Online casinos are illegal in Japan. Plans for IR developments continue to be resisted by citizens in some cities such as Yokohama.