Gambling Illegal In Japan
- Why Is Gambling Illegal In Japan
- Gambling Is Illegal In Japan
- Is Gambling Illegal In Japan
- Gambling Rules Japan
Gambling and Gambling Laws in Japan
The history of Japan’s gambling habits and laws is a rather difficult one, especially as a large majority of it is generally banned by the Criminal Code chapter 23. However there are a few exceptions including different types of betting on public sports, the lottery and toto which are football pools – accepted as it increases the income of national and local governments.
In 1907, towards the close of the Meiji era in Japan, gambling was made an illegal activity. And with more than a century of strict anti-gambling laws, the situation has not changed much. However, in the recent past, more people are increasingly curious if gambling will be regulated in Japan.
Casinos
Casinos are currently illegal in Japan, however there were movements within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that urged the government to open casinos to encourage and boost tourism in Japan.
Japan is one of the few Asian nations that is still adamant not to legalize casinos. This has meant any players looking to improve their blackjack skills are forced to go overseas to play.
However as the 2020 Olympic Games are set to be held in Tokyo this could all change. Although casino games and the Olympics may seem like an absurd connection, the Japanese capital will need hotels and guests will need sources of entertainment. Both Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts International have shown interest in investing in casino hotels and entertainment venues in Tokyo.
Pachinko
- Gambling in Japan is an activity deemed illegal according to Chapter 23 of Japan’s Criminal Code. However, not all forms of gambling are prohibited in the country. We clarify what forms of betting is legal in Japan and explain the current and future gambling laws. GUIDE: JAPANESE ONLINE CASINOS.
- In the meantime, gambling in Japan is thriving. Illegal casinos are found alongside massage parlours and seedy clubs and are often overseen by yakuza gangsters. One popular form of betting is.
- This would set Japan on pace to have the first casinos erected by the beginning of the Tokyo Olympic games in 2020. The Japanese diet has been pushing a plan to legalize casino gambling in Japan. Although pachinko is profitable and illegal, a legalized market would definitely make all areas of gambling and mobile betting in Japan more lucrative.
- According to some of the country's other history buffs, anti-gambling laws in Japan date to the 1500s when nobility played card games, with hanafuda (flower cards) being the most popular.
This game, which is very much like a mix of pinball and slot machines, is incredibly popular throughout Japan. Pachinko is officially not considered gambling as Japanese laws regard the game as an exception to the criminal code on gambling due to its lengthy historical and cultural roots.
There are around 12,480 pachinko parlours in Japan and the game has proven to be incredibly popular. Pachinko consists of players looking to get pinball balls into the correct slots, as they succeed they are rewarded with more balls which they can then exchange for prizes.
The reason why pachinko is legal is that money cannot be awarded at the parlours; instead the prizes are usually tokens which players then exchange at a neighbouring shop for cash. The shops in which the prizes are sold tend to be owned by the same company as the pachinko parlours, which is one way to get around the law.
Lottery
As well as pachinko, different lotteries known as takarakuji are also incredibly popular and a legal version of gambling in Japan. In Japan there are three main types of lottery which consist of unique number lotteries, selected number lotteries and scratch cards.
Lottery games are held by large cities in Japan on a regular basis throughout the year. Lottery tickets are often sold at a price of about 100 to 500 yen. They can be purchased from lottery booths and many stores as well as some ATMs. Winners of the lottery can win top prizes of up to 100 million yen and sometimes more. The law behind takarakuji ensures that the entire prize pool for any given lottery should be less than 50 per cent of the total sales; the rest of the money goes to local government organizations as well as charities.
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For years now, Japan has had a very strict set of laws set in place to limit the gambling options of their citizens. However, their new laws are about to change that.
Gambling and Casinos Completely Legal in Japan
Being one of the few modern countries to have banned betting, Japan finally opened its doors to this form of entertainment.
Why Did Japan Deny Betting for so Long?
Japan is an old country of a proud nation with a long tradition, and betting was never a good fit into this puzzle. In the modern era, Japan serves as a look into the future. Being the leader in IT and automotive technology, Japan managed to set an example of how every country should look like in the 21st century. Therefore, it comes as quite a surprise that a law elected so long ago in the year 1907 has been in full force until 2019.
What is it about betting that Japanese find so repelling? — Well for one, they closely relate it to the notorious Yakuza, a powerful Japanese criminal organization. Although betting has been illegal in Japan for a really long time, it never really stopped the Yakuza from making a fortune of off it, as they had a vast network of underground casinos.
Next to criminal inclinations, Japanese realize the addictive nature gambling can have. It is something they are taught from a very young age.
Does That Mean There Is No Gambling in Japan at All?
Absolutely not. There are forms of legal gambling in Japan, but they’re just not seen as real gambling. Bingo and lottery are widely popular in Japan, and you can get scratch cards almost anywhere. Moreover, you definitely won’t find any casinos scattered all over the city, but you will find the famous Pachinko Parlors. Pachinko is a game that strongly resembles video slots, except you don’t get paid out in cash. If you win at Pachinko, you get a card that you can exchange for chocolates, clothing, etc. Gambling has always existed in Japan in one form or another, but it is simply different from what westerners are used to. Although, some forms of gambling are quite the same; for example, the Japanese love betting on horse racing and sports betting, in general, is legal. Here’s a short list of what types of gambling you can do in Japan should you ever visit:
- Pachinko
- Lottery and bingo
- Horse racing
- Car racing
- Bicycle racing
- Boat racing
2016 Marked a New Era for Japan
After nearly 20 years of trying to pass the law which would make gambling legal, the government finally made it in 2016. There has definitely been a lot of resistance from the opposition who believes this law is devaluing Japanese tradition and culture. However, it is a strong impression that the people would like to be more open to the world and attract more tourists. This meant gambling had to become legal as a form of entertainment. Japan hopes to establish the committee for licenses in the first half of 2019, and in ideal conditions, some politicians would like to see the first casinos opened by 2020, in time for the Olympic Games. Although, more realistic estimates tell us it won’t happen any time before 2025, approximately.
Japan Won’t Be the New Las Vegas
If you hoped to fly over to Tokyo and see casinos just about anywhere, that won’t be the case. Passing the new gambling law comes with a price; the casinos will be integrated. This means they will probably be taking the first floors of different resorts where they can be highly monitored. This law strikingly resembles the one from Singapore, which was later on passed by South Korea as well. This is where the Japanese government saw the opening and decided to use the same model. Considering this law revived the tourism and the economy of Singapore, there is no reason to believe it won’t do the same for Japan.
What Will the Jurisdiction Be?
Japanese integrated casinos will be locally licensed by the government itself. This appears to be a model adopted from countries such as Italy, France, and the UK that regulate their own markets. The Japanese license will come at a high price too; 30% of the gaming tax will have to be paid to the government. It might seem a lot more strict than how it is in the rest of the world, but the only way to convince the population in Japan that gambling should be legal was to promise it will be tightly regulated. Therefore, any casinos to try and conquer the newly open market will have to be prepared for regulations and strict procedures.
The Law Will Treat Locals and Tourists Differently
Why Is Gambling Illegal In Japan
Seeing how gambling is nothing new to the Western population, Japan decided to let tourists play all they want without any additional fees or regulations. A privilege local population still won’t enjoy.
Gambling Is Illegal In Japan
To explain, if you’re a citizen of Japan, you will get to visit a casino only 3 times per week and 10 times per month overall. With that comes the entrance fee that amounts to 6,000 yen, which equals to around 50 USD. This is a safety measure to control what Japanese fear the most; gambling addiction. With this, the government hopes to keep gambling in its local population under control, without the consequences it brings. Perhaps this directive will be changed in the future if the ruling bodies estimate there is no danger of the new addiction putting down its roots inside the country.
Also, the new gambling laws in Japan will allow the population to borrow money from the casinos. Consequently, it is left to see whether this proves to be dangerous and if it might nullify all the rules the country has set in order to protect the nation from this form of addiction.
Cities That Will Witness the Opening of the First Casinos
A couple of cities in Japan are already set and ready to build the new resorts:
- Osaka
- Tokyo
- Yokohama
- Tomakomai (located on the island of Hokkaido)
- Nagasaki
Once they meet all the standards, the casinos will be granted with licenses valid for up to 10 years. This is another important clause in the new gambling law, according to which the first three licenses issued by local governments will be valid for 10 years, and each one after that for 5 years. With this, Japan made sure that casinos will continuously need to meet requirements and fully abide by the law. In spite of all the injunction, major international casinos still cannot wait to enter the Japanese market and take part in the estimated revenue.
What About Online Casinos in Japan?
It’s still not safe to say. Currently, there’s no mention of online casinos that would be licensed by Japan, but it does seem logical it’s only a matter of time. Once Japan realizes how much it can earn from land-based casinos alone, it is imminent online casinos will follow.
Who Is Entering the Market?
Mainly Las Vegas casino operators. Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, etc. However, the competition is expected to be tough, as American casinos definitely won’t be dominating the new market. Malaysian-based Genting Group is showing great interest too.
Is Gambling Illegal In Japan
Of course, this is the local market, and Japanese companies will have their fair share of it. A couple of well-known names are in the game too, such as Sega Sammy Holdings and Konami Holdings; well-established brands in the entertainment industry. It is evident that all the biggest players in the gambling industry are fully aware of the size and the importance of the freshest market in the world, as of this year.
Here Are the Estimates
Japan is a country loved by many, which is evident from the fact that it hosted nearly 30 million tourists in 2018 alone. A well-known investment bank Gold Sachs believes the Japanese gambling market will bring around $15 billion after the resorts have been opened. With Macau’s revenue of approximately $37 billion, this would make Japan second country with the highest gambling revenue in the world. This is quite amazing news for the world’s third strongest economy.
Gambling Rules Japan
The New Law Might Change Japan Completely
To many, it may seem this is but a simple law that concerns gamblers and large corporations only. However, it may change the views of the Japanese nation from the core. Pachinko games finally won’t be in the gray zone of the law, and the perception towards Korean-Japanese might change as well. Most of the Pachinko parlors are operated by the immigrants who escaped from Korea after the WW2. The new law might just ease out their integration into society. In the end, the government is fully confident that things can only change for the better, the economy will be even stronger, and Japan will finally embrace the status of the world’s most modern country.