Japanese bettors wagered US$45bn on offshore gambling sites in 2024
Online gambling remains illegal in Japan.
Japan.- The Council for Sports Ecosystem Promotion (C-SEP) has reported that bettors in Japan wagered about JPY6.45tn (US$45bn) on offshore sports betting sites in 2024. According to The Mainichi, that includes JPY1tn (US$6.94bn) on domestic sports.
An estimated JPY528bn (US$3.68bn) was wagered on pro baseball, JPY333.4bn (US$2.32bn) on soccer and JPY87bn (US$606m) on basketball. The global market for betting on Japanese sports, both online and offline is stated at JPY4.9tn (US$34.18bn). The estimates were derived from information obtained by C-SEP through consultations with international internet service providers and data firms.
In March, the National Police Agency (NPA) found that 3.37 million people in the country had gambled at online casinos, spending around JPY1.24tn (US$8.4bn) annually.
Some players from professional baseball teams, including the Orix Buffaloes and the Yomiuri Giants, are facing legal action for gambling on online casinos. Nippon Professional Baseball has fined 16 people from eight teams a total of JPY 10.2m (US$75,175).
A land-based casino in Japan is in development in Osaka and horse racing betting is allowed, but online gambling is illegal and can be punished with fines of up to JNY500,000 (US$3,282) and prison sentences of up to three years. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said the government plans to set up a forum to discuss the issue.
The government may open new applications for integrated resort (IR) licences, potentially reviving its initial plan to approve three developments. It’s reported that two more permits could be awarded by the end of 2027. In March, Wakayama governor Shuhei Kishimoto said that the prefecture would consider bidding to host an IR with a casino if Japan opens a new round of applications.
