Online casino have been appearing frequently in the news lately. While they are clearly defined as illegal in Japan, their ease of use on smartphones may lead some to try them out without realizing it. Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC student staff) spoke with Yasuo Sawai, a lawyer with a background as a police bureaucrat and a Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department detective who is knowledgeable about online casinos, about the dangers of online casinos and points to be aware of. To avoid getting caught up in illegal activity, first make sure you have the right knowledge.
Aki Law Office
Yasuo Sawai, Attorney at Law
Graduated from the School of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University. After working as a police bureaucrat and detective, he is now a lawyer handling a wide range of corporate law and civil and criminal cases. He holds an MBA from the Waseda Graduate School of Finance, a Certified Fraud Examiner, and a Level 1 Financial Compliance Officer license. He has also served as a part-time judge at the Tokyo Summary Court and an in-house lawyer for the Tokyo Certified Public Tax Accountants Association. He has a wealth of experience in dealing with corporate scandals and appearing in the media. He is currently enrolled in the doctoral program at the Waseda University Graduate Graduate School of Law (Criminal Law, Kitagawa Laboratory).
Waseda Weekly Reporter
Nanami Yoneda, 3rd year School of Social Sciences
(From left) Yoneda-san and Attorney Sawai in the courtroom classroom in Building No. 8 Waseda Campus.
INDEX
▼The dangers of online casino It's a big mistake to think that "it's safe because it's an overseas site"!
▼One smartphone can lead to crime: Online casino are easy for students to get addicted to
▼Don't keep it to yourself, consult us immediately! List of various consultation services
The dangers of online casino: It's a big mistake to think that it's safe because it's an overseas site!
"I didn't know" is no excuse - online casino are illegal!
What is an online casino?
Online casino involve playing games and other games online, and betting on the outcome with cash, crypto assets, or electronic money. Winning pays out, and in many cases, the profits are converted into cash in the form of electronic money or crypto assets. There are also increasing cases of people being lured in by advertisements for games and other games on their smartphones, and getting involved without realizing it is an online casino.
Yoneda: If someone gets involved in online casino in Japan, what crime will they be charged with?
Gambling at an online casino constitutes the "Gambling Crime" (※1) under the Criminal Code. There are two types of gambling crimes: simple gambling and habitual gambling. Simple gambling is punishable by a fine of up to 500,000 yen, while habitual gambling is punishable by imprisonment of up to three years. Habitual gambling is treated as a more serious crime.
Bar associations' legal consultation services are seeing an increasing number of inquiries about people who have fallen into large debts or fallen victim to fraud due to online casinos. With online casino sites now easily accessible via smartphone, many people are unaware that they are illegal. Many people also mistakenly believe that it's legal because it's an overseas site, leading them to believe it's okay. However, even if you access an overseas online casino from Japan and gamble, Japanese criminal law applies, and you will be prosecuted for a crime.
The number of inquiries about online casinos has increased sharply over the past four to five years. While there is a high level of interest in casinos in Japan, they are not legally available in the country, so people may end up accessing overseas online casino.
(※1) A crime that applies when gambling with money or valuables. It is defined as "crimes related to gambling and lotteries" in Articles 185 to 187 of the Penal Code.
The risk of addiction lurking in online casino
Yoneda: Please tell us about the dangers of gambling using online casino.
When you win, you start thinking, "I can win more," and when you lose, you start thinking, "I want to get it back," and no matter what happens, you can't escape the swamp of online casinos. In other words, the biggest danger is the extremely high risk of becoming addicted to gambling. With traditional brick-and-mortar casinos, you have to actually go to the store, which poses certain physical and psychological hurdles. However, with online casinos, you can play 24 hours a day with just your smartphone, so they tend to become deeply ingrained in your life and increase the risk of addiction.
Furthermore, some online casino offer puzzle games and games where you predict the results of sports, allowing you to play like a game. As a result, there are cases where people get involved in gambling without even realizing that it is illegal gambling. As a result, in order to pay off the debts they incur at online casinos, they turn to illegal part-time jobs or borrow money from consumer finance companies, friends, and family, which can completely destroy their relationships.
Yoneda: When we asked about 100 Waseda Weekly reader monitors, 30% of them answered that they had seen advertisements for online casino or suspicious advertisements that looked like they were for online casinos.
The Basic Act on Measures Against Gambling Addiction (※2) has been revised to prohibit the posting of online casino-related apps, advertising and promotion on social media, and misleading behavior via aggregation sites. However, there are currently no penalties, and its effectiveness is expected to be verified through future implementation. Companies and website operators who post advertisements will be held accountable for their compliance even without legal penalties, so voluntary compliance is required. Since the law has only just been enacted, it is important to keep a close eye on future developments, and students should continue to take precautions such as not clicking on suspicious advertisements. In particular, be wary of advertisements that lure with phrases such as "You can make money," "It's easy to win," and "You can start by playing for free."
(*2) The revised law was enacted in June 2025 and came into effect on September 25 of the same year. This revision prohibits the advertising, promotion, and inducement of illegal online casino via the Internet. At the same time, the national and local governments are now required to widely publicize these illegal activities and prevent the spread of damage.
A smartphone can lead to crime: Students are easily addicted to online casino
Control yourself! Stay away from illegal gambling
Yoneda: Online casino users are mostly in their 20s. Why is that?
One of the main reasons is that it is easily accessible via smartphone. Students, who spend more time on their smartphones than working adults, are also more likely to get involved. Also, some young people may want to make a lot of money easily, or may find online casino to be fashionable. Since students have a limit to the amount of money they can earn from part-time jobs, they may be more likely to be attracted to gambling, which offers the possibility of winning a large sum in one go.
From a document prepared by the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA). (Source: National Police Agency Research and Survey to Understand the Actual Situation of Online Casino)
Yoneda: On the other hand, poker and mahjong seem to be popular among university students. Aren't they illegal as long as no money is being bet on them?
As long as you don't bet money or other assets, it's not illegal as a simple game, but if you do bet, it becomes a gambling offense. In particular, be careful because gambling doesn't become a legal offense once the outcome of the bet is announced, but rather the moment you start betting money. Also, gambling using cryptocurrency or electronic money is also a gambling offense.
Yoneda: If we get involved with an online casino, where should we go for help?
You should consult with an attorney first, as you may be subject to criminal charges. Also, if you are at risk of developing a gambling addiction, it is important to seek professional treatment and receive appropriate support.
Yoneda: What should students be aware of to avoid getting involved in online casino?
First of all, it is important to understand that gambling, including online casino, is illegal in Japan and there is no "gray area." Never believe the misinformation that "it's legal because it's an overseas site."
It is also important for each individual to reconsider how they use their smartphones and create an environment that reduces temptation. Be aware of controlling your own behavior by being careful not to come into contact with gambling-related apps and advertisements, and limiting the amount of time you can use your smartphone.
How did you feel after completing the interview?
Yoneda
I had the impression that online casino was something far removed from me, but I realized that they are surprisingly close to me. Online casino targeting young people are becoming more sophisticated, with some allowing easy betting with small amounts and others taking on forms that at first glance don't look like casinos. In Japan, it's important to recognize that "all online casino are criminals," to be aware that "you could unknowingly be involved in illegal activities," and to take it personally.
Interview and text: Kumpei Kuwamoto
Photography: Nanako Ono
Don't worry about it all by yourself, ask for help right away! List of various consultation counters
If you are in trouble, do not try to solve it on your own, but immediately go to a consultation desk. The closest consultation desk on campus is the office of your faculty or graduate school, but we will also introduce the following as other consultation desks.
Student Affairs Section (Student Life 110)
If you are worried about any troubles, incidents, or accidents that may occur in your student life, please feel free to consult us, even if it is a small matter.
Student Diversity Center Student Counseling Center (Legal Counseling)
Free legal consultations are available twice a month at the Student Counseling Center on Waseda Campus (Building No. 25-2, Health Support Center 6th floor). Advance registration is required.
Waseda Legal Clinic (Waseda Campus Building No.)
This law firm is attached to Waseda University. Anyone affiliated with Waseda University can receive free consultations, but advance registration is required.
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