For several years, gambling and all gambling activities were banned in Japan but recent developments revealed some liberalized aspects of the country’s strict gambling law that saw it embrace a limited form of gambling. This partial legalization only happened within the last 10 years.
Though casino business became legalized as far back as 2018, the legalization of other forms of gambling activities appears to be moving very slowly. However, the drag has not deterred Japanese gambling enthusiasts from indulging in their favorite form of wagering through foreign bookies who are not regulated by Japan.
What is Sports Betting?
Sports betting refers to that kind of gambling involving placing bets or wagering on the potential outcome of sporting activities. This can be done illegally where bettors wager through bookies or legally through sportsbooks or bookmakers. In Japan, sports betting exists but the legalities are yet to be concluded, though many foreign betting sites are already catering to the needs of the gambling enthusiasts in the country Your best bet is to find out which are the best Japanese betting sites and make informed choices.
Japan: A Sports Loving Nation
Like other countries of the world, the Japanese love sports, its citizens, watch, participate, and even place bets on sporting activities. While baseball is their most popular game, football has also become huge in the country, thanks to their participation in flagship tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and several other notable tournaments.
The Japanese also follow other sporting activities like basketball, American football, rugby, and tennis. With all that said, a mention must be made of the country’s iconic national sport, Sumo wrestling. The popularity of these sporting activities notwithstanding, sports betting is yet to be regulated for both football and baseball.
The Global Economic Hardship of 2020 Hit Japan’s Sports Industry Hard
Japan’s sports industry reportedly lost $2.5 billion within six months in 2020 due the global economic hardship. While reviewing possible ways to soften the incurred loss, the authorities started considering sports betting but met several obstacles. 2019 records revealed that Japan generated $55 billion from just the few sports where betting activities are permitted and an expansion of the existing offering may generate double the amount.
Again, massive income leakage was discovered from the end of Japanese bettors and residents who were already wagering at offshore online sites while part of the country’s sports betting industry remains prohibited. Though Japan’s biggest industry groups are at the forefront of this agitation for change, the legalization process still seems to be dragging. The potential launch date was previously pegged at 2024 but nothing is certain yet.
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Japan’s Gambling Industry is Strictly Regulated
The ongoing proposals to make sports betting legal in Japan have met with a lot of opposition. This stems from the fact that many are concerned about gambling addiction and the effect of legalization on the integrity of the country’s sports competition which must be preserved at all cost. That notwithstanding, the authorities are seriously considering the benefits of legalizing sports betting which may help to keep them abreast of the global market, boost sports revenue, and protect the status and image of professional athletes and clubs in Japan.
In view of this, METI, (the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan) is already working on sports betting legalization, leading the Japan Sports Agency to launch the Sports Future Development Council.
However, in March 2021, a counter-report came from the National Public Safety Commission’s chairperson, debunking the news that online wagering on sports was about to be legalized.
Important to note that Japan has betting activities that are officially sanctioned including horse racing, boat racing, track cycling, keirin cycle racing, motorcycle racing, and the lottery ticket system called Toto. However, Private corporations are prohibited from participating in any of them.
Japan and Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is available in Japan as both horse racing and Toto betting are sanctioned for online wagering. Licensed and fully regulated by the Japanese authorities, the betting firms involved must adhere to gambling regulations and must not offer additional services such as online betting on events and sports that are tagged non-public.
The citizens of Japan are allowed to watch football and horse racing via the internet and the existing prohibitions notwithstanding, the people still generate a modest betting interest. Locals who crave to go beyond the government’s regulations in sports betting activities can leverage offshore online sportsbooks to place bets.
Technically, the Japanese government is yet to legalize online sports betting but the citizens are taking advantage of the loopholes to enjoy sports betting through foreign bookies. Since these sites are not of Japanese origin, the authorities have no jurisdiction over their operations, thus, locals don’t need to worry about violating the law.
Conclusion
With the way the sports betting legalization process is dragging in Japan, it may be too early for gambling enthusiasts to start expecting things to change. As the authorities remain strict in controlling the industry, expecting a complete free-market model that equates to New Jersey may turn out to be an unrealizable dream. However, organizations that are pushing for change keep on increasing their momentum, hoping for things to move faster.
