Key Facts
• June 18, 2025: Revised Gambling Addiction Countermeasures Law passed in Japan’s Upper House.
• Law defines online casino promotion posts as illegal, aiming to curb their spread.
• Police previously targeted promoters under gambling assistance charges.
• Law allows private groups like Internet Hotline Center (IHC) to request content removal.
• No penalties included, but law clarifies illegality of promotional content.
• Examples of illegal content: “Top Online Casinos” lists, posts with casino URLs.
• Expert Yoichi Torihata highlights law’s importance in addressing legal ambiguities.
• Some casino sites omit Japan from lists of countries where gambling is illegal.
• Torihata suggests blocking access to such sites requires clear legal definitions.
• Overseas, gambling regulatory bodies oversee similar issues effectively.
Summary
Japan’s revised Gambling Addiction Countermeasures Law, passed on June 18, 2025, aims to combat the growing issue of online casino promotions. The law explicitly defines promotional posts, such as “Top Online Casinos” lists or posts with URLs, as illegal. While it imposes no penalties, it empowers organizations like the Internet Hotline Center (IHC) to request the removal of harmful content. Experts, including Yoichi Torihata, view the law as a significant step in clarifying legal ambiguities and addressing the rapid rise of online casino usage in Japan. Torihata also emphasizes the need for further measures, such as blocking access to illegal sites, which require clear legal definitions. The law aligns with international practices, where regulatory bodies oversee gambling activities. This development is expected to reduce the spread of online casino promotions and enhance public awareness of their illegality.
