--- title: "Japan gambling licensing, cost and supervision | advennt.io" canonical: https://advennt.io/jurisdictions/japan/ source_html: /jurisdictions/jp/index.html description: "Japan gambling regulation by game: 3 open · 1 restricted · 13 closed · 3 not yet assessed." generated_at: 2026-10-26T22:03:01Z content_sha256: e1587f58958053fc4b11c141b225bcf326e9a087cbb8a4feec56672b69f9d291 generator: "fe-fleet/md-twin@1.0" --- # Japan gambling licensing, cost and supervision | advennt.io [Jurisdictions](/jurisdictions/) › Japan # Japan National jurisdiction Online gambling: entry is not possible; criminal prohibition applies to operators and their Japan-based personnel, and the September 2025 amendment reaches offshore operators presenting sites to JP residents. [3 open · 1 restricted · 13 closed · 3 not yet assessed → 20 classes](#products) Collected 25 Oct 2026 · Published 25 Oct 2026 · Changed 28 Sep 2026 [PDF](report.pdf) [Sign in for PDF](https://advennt.io/auth/) [Compare](/compare/?j=japan) ## Can we offer our product? Every product class, in fixed taxonomy order. The band is what you can do; where the recorded legal status says something the band does not, it is shown beside the product. ### Player products - CasinoProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - PokerProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - BingoProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - LotteryState monopoly (sole exception to a general prohibition)XClosed - Sports bettingProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - Other event bettingProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - Horse and greyhound racing betting–Not yet assessed - Esports bettingProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - Exchange bettingProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - Pool betting–Not yet assessed - Virtual event bettingProhibited · Models agreeXClosed - Fantasy sportsProhibited · Models agreeXClosedVaries by form · 1Sponsor funded prize no fee linkage: outside_perimeter - Skill gamesProhibitedXClosed - Prediction markets–Not yet assessed - SweepstakesModels agreeOOpen - Free playOutside the regulatory perimeter · Models agreeOOpen ### Supply roles - Software / B2BRRestricted - Affiliate marketingModels agreeOOpenVaries by form · 1Online casino affiliate marketing: prohibited - Payments for gamblingProhibitedXClosed ### Settlement rail - Crypto gamblingProhibitedXClosed Class-level certainty is graded for 12 of 20 classes. ## Board briefing Japan: online gambling fully prohibited and prosecuted; only a single land-based IR (Osaka) is licensed. #### What has changed - The September 2025 amendment to the Anti-Gambling Addiction Act banned new online casinos and online ads and reached offshore operators presenting sites to Japanese residents; NPA enforcement against users and intermediaries intensified through 2024–2025. #### What to do now - Do not target Japan online; ensure robust geo-blocking of JP residents, avoid any JP-facing marketing or affiliate activity, and treat the only viable route as CMC-certified B2B supply to a licensed land-based IR. #### What to watch - Second IR licensing round (~2026–2027), MIC ISP-blocking decision, and any movement on sports-betting liberalisation. ## 11 answers, each dated and graded The weather grades favourability for an operator, not legality: legality is the product table above. The left rule is our confidence: solid confirmed, dashed probable, dotted uncertain. 01 · What kind of market is this? ### Overview Unfavourable Japan's integrated-resort market structure remains anchored by a single approved licence, MGM Resorts' Osaka IR at Yumeshima, with two of the three statutory licences contemplated under the IR framework still unallocated. The standing legal foundation for gambling-dependency policy is the Gambling D… Full analysis · 123 words Japan's integrated-resort market structure remains anchored by a single approved licence, MGM Resorts' Osaka IR at Yumeshima, with two of the three statutory licences contemplated under the IR framework still unallocated. The standing legal foundation for gambling-dependency policy is the Gambling Dependency Countermeasures Basic Act (Act No. 74 of 2018), durable primary legislation that defines "gambling etc." as public sporting competitions, pachinko-parlour-related games, and other games of chance conducted pursuant to law. The dominant development this cycle is not on the land-based IR side but on the online-gambling side: an amendment to that Basic Act, effective 25 September 2025, independently criminalises the presentation and inducement of illegal online-gambling websites, materially tightening the enforcement environment even as the underlying IR licensing structure remains stable. - Online gambling comprehensively prohibited and actively prosecuted - IR licences capped at three nationally, only one approved - Criminal exposure for offshore operators and their personnel Confirmed AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/japan/overview/) 02 · Can we get a licence? ### Licensing and regulation Unfavourable A Cabinet Order dated 10 March 2026, issued under the IR District Development Act, opened a second IR casino licensing round, with an application window running from 6 May 2026 to 5 November 2027, for up to two further casino licenses. This is a confirmed, dated liberalising instrument that expands … Full analysis · 128 words A Cabinet Order dated 10 March 2026, issued under the IR District Development Act, opened a second IR casino licensing round, with an application window running from 6 May 2026 to 5 November 2027, for up to two further casino licenses. This is a confirmed, dated liberalising instrument that expands the licensing framework beyond the single existing licensed integrated resort. Separately, the Japan Casino Regulatory Commission's supplier and manufacturer licensing category has become operationally active, with Konami Gaming Inc. becoming the first company to submit license applications across all applicable categories to the JCRC, on 8 July 2026. Together these developments confirm that both the operator-side and supplier-side licensing pathways under the IR District Development Act framework are now functioning in administrative practice, not merely established in statute. Confirmed AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/japan/licensing/) 03 · How hard is entry, really? ### Market entry in practice Unfavourable Online gambling: entry is not possible; criminal prohibition applies to operators and their Japan-based personnel, and the September 2025 amendment reaches offshore operators presenting sites to JP residents. IR casino: entry requires an extraordinarily long-term investment (10+ years application-to… Full analysis · 77 words Online gambling: entry is not possible; criminal prohibition applies to operators and their Japan-based personnel, and the September 2025 amendment reaches offshore operators presenting sites to JP residents. IR casino: entry requires an extraordinarily long-term investment (10+ years application-to-opening), partnership with Japanese entities, billions of USD in capital, and high political/reputational risk. The only near-term commercial opportunity is as a CMC-certified B2B equipment supplier to an IR operator. For mainstream online operators, Japan is a watch-and-wait jurisdiction. Confirmed AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/japan/market-entry/) 04 · What do the licences cost? ### Licence fees Unfavourable Online gambling: not applicable (prohibited). IR casino licence and entry costs are extraordinarily high — initial capex for the Osaka IR is ~JPY1.27 trillion (≈US$8.9bn). The IR Implementation Act sets significant application and ongoing licence fees, with area certification adding prefectural fees… Full analysis · 55 words Online gambling: not applicable (prohibited). IR casino licence and entry costs are extraordinarily high — initial capex for the Osaka IR is ~JPY1.27 trillion (≈US$8.9bn). The IR Implementation Act sets significant application and ongoing licence fees, with area certification adding prefectural fees. Total entry cost for an IR operator is in the billions of USD. Probable AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/japan/fees/) 05 · What is the tax take? ### Tax Unfavourable Online gambling: not applicable (prohibited). IR casino gross gaming revenue is taxed at 30% (split between national and prefectural governments). Player winnings are taxable as occasional income under the Income Tax Act. Consumption tax of 10% applies to IR casino services. The 30% GGR rate makes J… Full analysis · 55 words Online gambling: not applicable (prohibited). IR casino gross gaming revenue is taxed at 30% (split between national and prefectural governments). Player winnings are taxable as occasional income under the Income Tax Act. Consumption tax of 10% applies to IR casino services. The 30% GGR rate makes Japan one of the highest-taxed potential casino markets globally. Probable AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/japan/taxes/) 06 · Can we move player money? ### Payments and banking Unfavourable Online gambling: all Japanese domestic payment methods are targeted for blocking. The NPA, FSA and METI collaborate to suppress remittances and card payments to online casinos, with METI engaging international card schemes and issuers to remove operators from the payment network. The June 2025 Payme… Full analysis · 91 words Online gambling: all Japanese domestic payment methods are targeted for blocking. The NPA, FSA and METI collaborate to suppress remittances and card payments to online casinos, with METI engaging international card schemes and issuers to remove operators from the payment network. The June 2025 Payment Services Act amendment updated crypto-asset, stablecoin and fund-transfer-service rules (effective within one year). Offshore operators cannot legally process JPY payments for online gambling to Japanese residents. IR casino payments will operate within a strict AML/CFT framework under the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds. Confirmed AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/japan/payments/) 07 · Can we advertise? ### Marketing Unfavourable Marketing of online gambling to Japanese residents is illegal. The September 2025 amendment to the Anti-Gambling Addiction Act explicitly bans the posting of online ads for illegal online casinos, including on social media, and bans the launch of new online casinos including smartphone apps. Japanes… Full analysis · 96 words Marketing of online gambling to Japanese residents is illegal. The September 2025 amendment to the Anti-Gambling Addiction Act explicitly bans the posting of online ads for illegal online casinos, including on social media, and bans the launch of new online casinos including smartphone apps. Japanese advertising-industry guidelines already required members to refrain from advertising offshore online gambling to JP residents. IR casino advertising will be tightly restricted under the IR framework, with no advertising permitted near schools or welfare facilities. Pachinko marketing is subject to industry self-regulation. No affiliate marketing of online gambling is legally permissible. Confirmed AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/japan/marketing/) 08 · What must the platform meet? ### Technical compliance Unfavourable Online gambling: no technical compliance framework applies (prohibited). IR casino: the CMC has published technical standards for casino equipment and IT systems, requiring electromagnetic equipment inspection and self-examination/reporting for non-electromagnetic equipment. RNG and game-fairness re… Full analysis · 63 words Online gambling: no technical compliance framework applies (prohibited). IR casino: the CMC has published technical standards for casino equipment and IT systems, requiring electromagnetic equipment inspection and self-examination/reporting for non-electromagnetic equipment. RNG and game-fairness requirements apply. Data handling is governed by the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI); there is no general data-localisation mandate. Incident reporting to the CMC is required. Probable AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/japan/technical/) 09 · Can we ship through apps and platforms? ### Distribution and platforms Unfavourable The 2025 amendment to the Gambling Dependency Countermeasures Basic Act, effective 25 September 2025, gives police the power to request that platforms and internet service providers take down content that presents or induces use of illegal online-gambling websites. This extends Japan's enforcement r… Full analysis · 106 words The 2025 amendment to the Gambling Dependency Countermeasures Basic Act, effective 25 September 2025, gives police the power to request that platforms and internet service providers take down content that presents or induces use of illegal online-gambling websites. This extends Japan's enforcement reach directly into distribution infrastructure, targeting the channels, such as social-media posts, affiliate links, and aggregator sites, through which offshore online-casino operators reach Japanese users, rather than only the underlying gambling platform. The power is statutorily grounded but operates as an administrative request mechanism, and no dedicated enforcement-events register was located this cycle to show how frequently or against whom it has been exercised. Confirmed AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/japan/distribution/) 10 · How hard does the regulator enforce? ### Enforcement Unfavourable The material enforcement development this cycle is the 25 September 2025 entry into force of an amendment to the Gambling Dependency Countermeasures Basic Act, which makes presentation or introduction of illegal online-gambling websites, and internet-based inducement of unspecified persons toward su… Full analysis · 167 words The material enforcement development this cycle is the 25 September 2025 entry into force of an amendment to the Gambling Dependency Countermeasures Basic Act, which makes presentation or introduction of illegal online-gambling websites, and internet-based inducement of unspecified persons toward such gambling, independently unlawful, separate from the wagering offence itself. This is confirmed, durable statutory law, corroborated by a Tokyo Metropolitan Government notice and Nikkei's coverage of the 18 June 2025 Diet vote. Alongside the new offence, national and local government, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the National Police Agency, have been given public-awareness duties, and police have been empowered to request takedown of qualifying content from platforms and internet service providers; this implementing power is fragile, resting on administrative direction rather than statute, and is revocable by future guidance change. No dedicated JCRC enforcement-events register was located this cycle, so the practical cadence of takedown requests and prosecutions under the new offence cannot yet be evidenced directly, only the statutory grant of the power itself. Confirmed AI-generated 11 enforcement events [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/japan/enforcement/) 11 · What is coming? ### Outlook Unfavourable Direction: slow IR-only liberalisation. A second licensing round is in preparation — a cabinet-order public-comment period ran August–December 2025, with an application window targeted for ~2026–2027; Hokkaido, Nagasaki, Tokyo and Yokosuka have signalled interest, and the government retains authorit… Full analysis · 79 words Direction: slow IR-only liberalisation. A second licensing round is in preparation — a cabinet-order public-comment period ran August–December 2025, with an application window targeted for ~2026–2027; Hokkaido, Nagasaki, Tokyo and Yokosuka have signalled interest, and the government retains authority for up to two further IRs. Online gambling remains firmly prohibited with the regime tightening (September 2025 amendment). The Osaka IR targets an Autumn 2030 opening. Japan is a long-term monitoring jurisdiction for online operators, not a near-term entry opportunity. Confirmed AI-generated [Read full analysis & tables →](/jurisdictions/japan/outlook/) Evidential record & source register 3 enforcement · 25 red flags · 15 sources · Expand full record ## Enforcement record What the regulator has actually done, newest first. 3 recorded events. - 1 Nov 2024National Police Agency · 57 individuals (crypto-funded offshore gambling)ConfirmedSource 5 · T3 - 1 Sep 2024National Police Agency · Offshore-gambling payment intermediaries (~10,000 users)ConfirmedSource 5 · T3 - 1 Feb 2024National Police Agency · Isle of Man-licensed online gaming site personnelConfirmedSource 5 · T3 ## What gets operators fined 25 red flags (10 high, 11 medium, 1 low) and 5 controls that address them. - highAdvertising online gambling to JP residentsBanned under the Sep 2025 Anti-Gambling Addiction Act amendment including social media.Source 4 · T2 - highProcessing JPY card/bank payments for online gamblingMETI/FSA/NPA coordinate to remove operators from payment networks; rails are being actively interdicted.Source 8 · T3 - highFailure to geo-block JP residentsConservatively constitutes 'presenting' a website under the amended Act; offshore operators must geo-block.Source 5 · T3 - highIndividual JP residents using offshore casinosUsers including celebrities and athletes have been referred to prosecutors; criminal liability applies to players.Source 11 · T3 - highDistributing real-money gambling apps to JP usersApp stores do not permit them; the Sep 2025 amendment bans new online casino apps.Source 4 · T2 - highTreating Japan as a near-term online opportunityOnline prohibition is entrenched and tightening; only IR land-based access exists, on a 10+ year horizon.Source 9 · T3 - highCrypto-funded offshore gambling57 individuals were referred to prosecutors for crypto-funded offshore gambling in Nov 2024.Source 5 · T3 - highAffiliate marketing of offshore gambling targeting JPAdvertising guidelines and the amended Act prohibit directing JP residents to illegal online gambling.Source 13 · T3 - highCrypto/stablecoin rails for JP gamblingJune 2025 PSA amendment tightens crypto/stablecoin rules; crypto gambling is actively prosecuted.Source 8 · T3 - highHub-jurisdiction licensee assuming insulationJapan reaches offshore operators via 'presenting' prohibition and card-scheme de-risking pressure.Source 5 · T3 - mediumAssuming a B2B online supply licence is obtainableNo online B2B pathway exists; only CMC-certified land-based IR equipment supply is available.Source 1 · T1 - mediumUnderestimating IR effective tax burden30% GGR tax plus 10% consumption tax makes Japan one of the highest-taxed casino markets.Source 2 · T1 - mediumAcquiring ≥5% of an IR operator without CMC clearancePunishable by imprisonment up to one year or fine up to JPY1m.Source 6 · T3 - mediumRelying on ISP-blocking absence to operateMIC is developing ISP-blocking obligations; the regulatory window is closing.Source 8 · T3 - mediumAssuming skill games escape the gambling definitionChance is satisfied if any accidental circumstance can affect outcome; only no-stake or sponsor-funded models are safe.Source 15 · T4 - mediumUsing cash-equivalent 'amusement' framing to avoid gambling rulesSupreme Court held cash never qualifies as momentary amusement regardless of amount.Source 12 · T3 - mediumExpecting more than three IR licences near-termCap is three nationally; only one approved; expansion review only ~seven years after initial approval.Source 6 · T3 - mediumUnderestimating IR capital requirementOsaka IR capex ~JPY1.27 trillion (~US$8.9bn); only well-capitalised consortia are viable.Source 3 · T2 - mediumReputational fallout from JP enforcementCelebrity and athlete referrals receive heavy media coverage; reputational risk is acute.Source 11 · T3 - mediumAssuming no IR technical certificationCMC requires equipment inspection and self-examination/reporting; non-compliance risks licence action.Source 6 · T3 - mediumConfusing pachinko tolerance with legal online accessPachinko's grey-area tolerance does not extend to online gambling, which is prohibited.Source 13 · T3 - lowTreating sports-betting liberalisation as imminentDiscussions exist but strong opposition remains; no enacted reform.Unregistered source - criticalOperating online gambling for JP residentsCriminal offence under Penal Code Art. 185–186; no licence pathway exists.Source 1 · T1 - criticalForeign licence assumed to protect operatorIsle of Man-licensed operator personnel were arrested in Japan; home licence affords no defence.Source 5 · T3 - criticalOperating a payment-collection intermediary for offshore gamblingOperators collecting and paying out winnings to ~10,000 users were arrested in Sep 2024.Source 5 · T3 ### Controls - 001Strict geo-blocking of JP residentsTechnically and voluntarily make the site inaccessible to users located in Japan to avoid 'presenting' under the amended Act.Source 5 · T3 - 002JP-facing marketing suppressionSuppress all advertising, affiliate and influencer activity directed at Japanese residents.Source 13 · T3 - 003JPY payment-rail avoidanceAvoid processing JPY card/bank/e-money payments for gambling given inter-agency interdiction.Source 8 · T3 - 004CMC suitability & ≥5% shareholder clearanceFor IR participation, obtain CMC clearance before acquiring ≥5% of an operator.Source 6 · T3 - 005Equipment certification complianceComply with CMC technical standards and equipment inspection for IR supply.Source 6 · T3 ## Worked scenarios 5 entry scenarios, each with the move we would make. #### MGA-licensed operator wishes to accept JP-resident players. Online gambling is prohibited under Penal Code Art. 185–186 regardless of foreign licence; the Sep 2025 amendment reaches offshore operators presenting sites to JP residents. The Isle of Man case shows arrests are real. Do this: Do not accept JP players; implement strict geo-blocking. Source 5 · T3 #### Software supplier wants to enter the Japanese market. No online B2B pathway exists. The only route is CMC-certified casino-related equipment supply to a licensed land-based IR. Do this: Pursue CMC equipment certification for IR supply; do not pursue online B2B. Source 6 · T3 #### Affiliate network plans JP-language casino review content. Directing JP residents to illegal online gambling is prohibited; advertising guidelines also bar offshore-gambling promotion. Do this: Exclude Japan from all targeting and content distribution. Source 13 · T3 #### Operator considers crypto rails to serve JP players discreetly. Crypto-funded offshore gambling is actively prosecuted (57 referrals Nov 2024); June 2025 PSA tightens crypto rules. Do this: Do not use crypto rails for JP players; the channel is targeted. Source 8 · T3 #### Consortium evaluates bidding for a second IR licence. A second round is in preparation (~2026–2027) for up to two IRs; entry requires billions in capital, local partnership, rigorous CMC suitability, and 30% GGR tax. Do this: Engage early with a prefecture and JP counsel; budget for very long timelines and high tax. Source 14 · T3 ## What we looked for and could not find Confirmed absence is a finding of its own. These are the questions we searched and could not answer from a citable source, with the searches we ran. Never behind the paywall. Baseline.cost to operate. precise IR application and annual licence fee figures not directly sourced in this run; only GGR tax rate and capex confirmed. - searched: Japan IR casino licence fee amount JPY - searched: Casino Regulatory Commission application fee schedule - searched: IR Implementation Act licence fee annual - checked: casino.jp Baseline.competitive landscape. no published unlicensed online market share figure beyond the NPA ~3.37m-user estimate; share-of-spend not quantified. - searched: Japan online casino market size estimate - searched: Japan illegal online gambling spend JPY - searched: NPA online casino users survey 2025 - checked: npa.go.jp ## Source register Every source on a four-step tier scale. A claim is never shown at a stronger tier than the source it cites. 15 sources · 2 tier 1 · 2 tier 2 · 10 tier 3 · 1 tier 4 No. Source Tier Verification 1 JP-PENAL-CODE-1907 T1 of 4 Source 1 · Open in drawer → 2 JP-IR-ACT-2018 T1 of 4 Source 2 · Open in drawer → 3 JP-JBP-OSAKA-2025 T2 of 4 Source 3 · Open in drawer → 4 JP-JAPANTIMES-LAW-2025 T2 of 4 Source 4 · Open in drawer → 5 JP-ANTI-GAMBLING-ADDICTION-2018 T3 of 4 Source 5 · Open in drawer → 6 JP-CHAMBERS-GAMING-2025 T3 of 4 Source 6 · Open in drawer → 7 JP-YOGONET-2NDROUND-2025 T3 of 4 Source 7 · Open in drawer → 8 JP-DLAPIPER-ONLINE-2025 T3 of 4 Source 8 · Open in drawer → 9 JP-LEGALPILOT-2026 T3 of 4 Source 9 · Open in drawer → 10 JP-SIGMA-CMC-2025 T3 of 4 Source 10 · Open in drawer → 11 JP-MONOLITH-ONLINECASINO-2025 T3 of 4 Source 11 · Open in drawer → 12 JP-LEXOLOGY-INTRO-2022 T3 of 4 Source 12 · Open in drawer → 13 JP-LEXOLOGY-GAMING-2019 T3 of 4 Source 13 · Open in drawer → 14 JP-CASINOCOM-2NDROUND-2025 T3 of 4 Source 14 · Open in drawer → 15 JP-MEDIUM-OHBA-DEFINITIONS-2026 T4 of 4 Source 15 · Open in drawer → ### Claims with their own provenance Online gambling is illegal in Japan under Penal Code Articles 185 and 186, including offshore sites, and is actively prosecuted. JP-CP-001 · T3 of 4 (asserted T2, shown at its source's tier) · published 5 Feb 2025 · Confirmed Pipeline-sourced · From Advennt research · Rule detail not yet extracted Source 11 · T3