Gambling laws in Japan are complex and have gone through periods of prohibition and regulation over time. Currently, most forms of gambling are banned, but there are some legal exceptions.
Is gambling completely illegal in Japan?
No, not all gambling is illegal in Japan. Some forms of gambling are permitted within strict regulatory frameworks. However, most other forms of gambling remain prohibited.
What gambling activities are legal in Japan?
There are a few legal gambling options in Japan:
- Public sports betting: Since 2018, Japan has allowed betting on public sports like horse racing, motorcycle racing, powerboat racing and keirin cycle racing.
- Lottery: National and regional government lotteries are legal in Japan.
- Pachinko: Japan’s iconic “pachinko” pinball/slot machine hybrid game is loosely regulated but legal.
- Casinos: As of 2022, integrated casino resorts are legal in special economic zones, but the first has not yet opened.
What gambling activities are illegal in Japan?
Most other forms of gambling outside these exceptions remain banned in Japan, including:
- Table games like blackjack, roulette and poker
- Slot machines
- Sports betting on non-public events
- Online gambling and mobile gambling
- Betting on non-regulated games like mahjong
- Private lotteries
When did gambling become illegal in Japan?
Gambling has gone through phases of legality and prohibition throughout Japanese history:
- pre-1600s: Gambling is legal and popular in Japan.
- 1600s-1867: The Tokugawa shogunate bans most forms of gambling.
- 1868-1907: After the Meiji Restoration gambling is legal but restricted.
- 1907-1923: A strict anti-gambling law bans most gambling.
- 1945-present: The 1907 law remains in place, but exceptions are made for certain regulated gambling activities.
So while gambling has always existed in Japanese culture, general prohibition has been in place since 1907.
What are the penalties for illegal gambling in Japan?
Running an illegal gambling operation in Japan can lead to up to 5 years imprisonment and fines of up to 500,000 yen under the Criminal Code.
Players can also face minor fines and imprisonment for illegal gambling. Police typically target organizers rather than players of illegal gambling.
Are these laws strongly enforced?
Enforcement is uneven. Pachinko parlors get away with operating in a legal gray zone, while other forms of gambling exist but try to keep a low profile. Police periodically crack down on major underground gambling dens.
For travelers, it’s unlikely you would get in trouble just for participating in small scale recreational gambling like a poker game. But larger operations do risk prosecution.
What’s the public opinion on gambling laws?
Public opinion is shifting toward support for legal, regulated gambling.
Surveys show 70-80% public support for the new integrated casino resorts. Many people participate in quasi-legal gambling like pachinko. The general public is pragmatic about gambling as entertainment.
Will Japan legalize more gambling in the future?
Possibly. Japan seems to be gradually expanding legal gambling, especially if it can be an economic driver. More casinos may open and sports betting could continue to be deregulated. However, strong political opposition remains from groups against the expansion of gambling.
Conclusion
Most forms of gambling are prohibited in Japan, with major exceptions for pachinko, racing, lottery, and soon casinos. But recreational gambling is often tolerated. Laws are unevenly enforced and public opinion seems open to new regulated gambling activities in the future, but full legalization is unlikely.