Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Japan?

Japan has long been one of the most popular tourism spots. It features a unique culture, bustling cities, historic castles, and serene nature spots.

Aside from its tourism appeal, Japan also has a large population of 126.5 million people. Due to its sizable population and successful tourism industry, Japan is ripe for a large online sports betting market.

But is it even legal to wager on sports online in Japan? The following guide discusses Japanese gambling laws, if betting sites are available here, and whether you’ll be safe when wagering at them.

Japan’s Gambling Laws Are Strict

Japan has fairly strict gambling laws in comparison to the average country. The country’s criminal code bans most types of gambling, with a few exceptions.

Betting on horse racing and motor sports is legal. Certain lotteries and toto (football) pools are legal through state-approved operators.

In late 2016, the Japanese Diet (parliament) passed the Integrated Resort Promotion Law. This legislation allows for the building of three major casino resorts in the cities of Osaka, Tokyo, and Yokohama.

Until these resorts are built, though, pachinko offers the closest thing to slot machines in the country. This slots-pinball hybrid is available in many gaming parlors throughout the country.

Any other type of gambling activity is considered illegal under Japanese law. Poker, most types of sports betting, and casino games (until the resorts are built) are prohibited.

Legal Betting Falls Under the “Public Sports” Category

Japan offers a few legal forms of sports betting that are listed under “public sports.” The latter refer to cycling, horse racing, powerboat racing, and speedway motorcycle racing.

These are the only sports that are eligible for legal betting in the country. Furthermore, all bookmakers that take wagers on public sports must receive government approval.

You can place bets on these racing sports either at tracks or via off-track betting locations found in major Japanese cities.

Unfortunately, the Land of the Rising Sun doesn’t offer any full-service sportsbooks. You won’t be able to make legal wagers on popular markets like baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer.

What Is Japan’s Stance on Online Betting?

This country offers limited legal mobile wagering. The Japanese Racing Association (JRA) features a betting site. However, anybody who uses it must first be approved for a subscription.

Japan’s criminal code doesn’t mention anything about online betting or other types of internet gambling. However, one should assume that any non-approved betting sites are illegal.

This nation doesn’t have a regulated real money online sports betting market. Outside of the JRA, no entity seems to hold government approval to run mobile wagering.

Are Betting Sites Available in Japan?

Japan prohibits sports gambling outside of the aforementioned public sports. Nevertheless, many betting sites serve this country.

These offshore bookmakers offer a variety of markets to Japan, such as baseball, boxing, rugby, soccer (football), tennis, and even sumo wrestling. They also feature bonus deals, including free bets and deposit bonuses.

Of course, none of these mobile betting operations are licensed by the Japanese government. You should do plenty of research before using them.

Your research needs to include how long the business has been operating, how well they take care of their customers, and any complaints that you can find about the business.

The most dangerous offshore betting sites haven’t been around long and/or have a mountain of complaints from previous customers.

Remember that you don’t have much in the way of protection if you place wagers with a business that isn’t regulated by the country where you’re placing bets.

Why Do Online Sportsbooks Serve Japan?

The criminal code makes it clear that only a few limited types of betting are allowed. So, why do offshore bookmakers feel comfortable serving this nation?

The two main reasons include:

• Japan’s government doesn’t seem concerned with chasing offshore operators.
• The criminal code doesn’t explicitly state that “online,” “mobile,” or “internet” betting are illegal.

Together, these aspects make betting sites feel more comfortable operating in Japan. They know that the chances of the federal government suddenly pursuing offshore bookmakers are very low.

Furthermore, the criminal code doesn’t entirely support such action either. It would need to be rewritten to justify going after international bookmakers.

Even if Japan decided to pursue legal action against offshore betting sites, it would experience difficulties in operating across different jurisdictions. All said, the Diet and authorities probably don’t see the reward being worth the effort.

Will You Be Arrested for Online Sports Betting in Japan?

You face almost no chance of getting arrested for mobile sports gambling in Japan. The authorities don’t seem concerned at all with chasing bettors.

The only case I can find where anybody was arrested for sports wagering is one involving somebody who also ran an illegal betting ring.

Sho Darvish, brother of famed MLB pitcher Yu Darvish, was arrested in Osaka after accepting 110 million yen ($1.1 million) worth of bets. Darvish also wagered 220 million ($2.2m) of his own money on the games.

This underground gambling ring drew attention because of Darvish’s name and how three Japanese pro baseball players placed bets. But the latter, who were members of the Yomiuri Giants, didn’t fix any games nor serve any jail time.

Unless you’re running an illegal sports wagering operation, then you likely have nothing to worry about. Japan isn’t interested in using its resources to hunt down people who place unregulated sports bets.

Make Sure You Find a Quality Mobile Sportsbook in Japan

You can see that this country is pretty liberal as far as offshore betting goes. However, this open factor also means that you’ll be dealing with unlicensed bookmakers.

With that said, you really want to look into any Japan-facing online sportsbook before depositing with it. Here are some tips to help with your research.

Check Reviews of Japanese Betting Sites

Numerous betting site reviews are available across the internet. You should take advantage of these resources when looking for a quality online sportsbook.

Reviews cover the key points of sports gambling sites, including their markets, odds, bonuses, support, banking options, and more.

After finding a sportsbook that you really like, you should consider reading multiple reviews on it. This approach will provide different points of view on the betting site.

Put Emphasis on a Bookmaker’s Reputation

When checking out reviews, you should put special emphasis on the operator’s reputation. Again, you’re dealing with unlicensed bookmakers and can’t take anything for granted.

Most offshore betting sites do a fairly good job of treating customers well. They realize that this is a must in order to draw repeat business.

However, a few bad apples do exist within the industry. You definitely want to root out any operators who treat customers poorly and/or are slow to make payouts.

Don’t Be Blinded by the Betting Bonus

Some betting sites offer large signup bonuses that can be worth hundreds of dollars. These offers are great if the sportsbook has a good reputation.

However, big bonuses can also mask what’s otherwise an untrustworthy bookmaker. This is especially true if the bonuses feature ambiguous terms and conditions. Ambiguous terms leave open the possibility that the operator will refuse to pay a bonus on some technicality.

Long story short, a bonus shouldn’t be the ultimate determinant of which sportsbook you choose. A reputable betting site is superior to a shady operator that may or may not even honor a huge bonus.

Conclusion

Japan isn’t completely draconian in its views towards sports betting. It does allow for wagering on a few racing sports.

However, it doesn’t regulate any betting beyond these few public sports. Luckily, though, many online sportsbooks serve this country.

You just need to do some work in making sure that you choose a quality operator. After all, none of these bookmakers hold licensing in Japan. If you get cheated in any way, then there’s no recourse to getting your money back.

The good news, though, is that most offshore bookmakers serving this nation are reputable. You won’t experience much trouble picking a good one after doing some research.