Legislation
Japan – Japan eyeing U-turn with revamped sports betting sector
By Phil - 30 April 2021
Betting on Nippon Professional League baseball could be allowed in Japan as early as 2024, according to a report from the Financial Times, which states that the government has already started discussions about legalising a $65bn a year sports betting market.
It also wants to allow betting on football’s J-League, which is already partially allowed through a pools-style lottery system. Japan currently only allows betting on horseracing, cycling, and motorboat and motorcycle racing. But with the Japanese professional sports industry being hard hit by the pandemic generating a loss of $2.5bn. Around $40bn is believed to be bet via illegal, offshore sites.
Mobile game developer Mixi also said to theft: “If regulations on betting in other sports are relaxed, new sources of revenue for the growth of Japan’s sport industry can be strongly expected, and we would like to contribute to this area.”
