Legislation

Japan – Online casinos to remain illegal in Japan

The new casino age in Japan won’t embrace online gaming at its launch, according to Hachiro Okonogi, Chairperson of the Liberal Democratic Party’s National Public Safety Commission.

Mr. Okonogi said: “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.”

“The reason online casinos are not subject to the ‘casino acts’ in the IR Development Act is because online casinos are illegal in the first place,” he added. “There is precedent of online casinos being run in Japan, busted and tried in court. Continuing to come down on online casinos is the role of the police and Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission. The fact is that this does not fall under the jurisdiction of the IR Development Act or the minister in charge of the Casino Management Committee.”