Key Moments:
- Nippon Television’s investigation identified a sharp increase in Japanese traffic to overseas sports betting sites, with some platforms seeing visitor numbers from Japan rise nearly tenfold compared to July 2024.
- The Sports Ecosystem Promotion Council estimated that Japanese players wagered 6.5 trillion yen ($44.16 billion) on illegal sports betting in 2025, warning of expanding risks including match-fixing and gambling addiction.
- A new law set to take effect next month will introduce stricter penalties for illegal gambling advertising, targeting both site operators and promoters.
Illegal Gambling Traffic Soars, Stoking Regulatory Action
A recent report by Nippon Television has illuminated a dramatic escalation in illegal sports betting activity within Japan, with local bettors increasingly turning to overseas gambling platforms. According to the broadcaster’s research, certain foreign sports gambling sites have experienced a surge in users from Japan, with site traffic reportedly reaching approximately ten times the level recorded in July 2024.
Engaging with such platforms from within Japanese territory constitutes a criminal act. In response to mounting concerns, the government is in the process of finalizing legislation that will introduce prison sentences for repeat offenders.
Betting Sites Expand Japanese Offerings and Services
Nippon Television conducted an in-depth examination of one particular site that enables users to wager on a broad spectrum of Japanese sporting events, including the professional baseball league (NPB) and the Japanese High School Baseball Championship (Koshien). This site also offers Japanese language services and provides live streams of events, such as the Yomiuri Giants vs Yokohama DeNA BayStars baseball match held on August 24. The broadcast noted, “This baseball broadcast was produced by Nippon Television, and the site did not contact us in advance. So this was an unauthorized stream.”
The broadcaster revealed that its reporter reached out to the site, speaking with an individual communicating in broken Japanese. When questioned, the site representative gave ambiguous responses regarding the legality of allowing Japanese bettors on the platform and falsely claimed to have obtained streaming permissions from the broadcaster.
Estimates Highlight Massive Illegal Market
Hironori Inagaki, Executive Director of the Sports Ecosystem Promotion Council, described the website as “an extremely malicious operator” and emphasized its growing influence within Japan’s unlawful betting sector. The council’s data suggested that Japanese participants wagered an astonishing 6.5 trillion yen ($44.16 billion) on illegal sports betting in 2025, warning that this figure may continue to climb. Inagaki further expressed concerns about the proliferation of gambling services and the resulting increase in risks such as match manipulation and problem gambling, stating: “The people who run illegal betting sites often work with criminal syndicates. They approach athletes and try to manipulate the results of matches. The risk of match-fixing is increasing worldwide.”
Additionally, Inagaki warned that many players who begin with sports betting later transition to online casino platforms.
Regulators Intensify Crackdown and Impose Fines
Tokyo authorities have responded to these issues by enhancing regulations that will soon criminalize advertising related to online casinos and illicit sports gambling entities. Enforcement measures will target both website operators and those who permit gambling advertisements on digital platforms, including social media influencers who promote such services.
The Japanese government has also appealed to countries and jurisdictions hosting these online casinos, urging them to limit access from Japanese users and desist from delivering content in Japanese.
| Date | Enforcement Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| August 24 | Unauthorized Broadcast | Streaming of Yomiuri Giants vs Yokohama DeNA BayStars baseball game by an overseas betting platform without broadcaster consent. |
| Earlier this month | Court Fine | Tokyo court fined pop star Shion Tsurubo 100,000 yen ($675) for gambling at an online casino, K8, from Japanese territory between December 2023 and June 2024. |
| Next month | Legal Reform | New law will criminalize advertising for online casinos and illegal sports betting sites, introducing fines and punitive measures. |
Public Health Concerns and Government Appeals
As enforcement intensifies, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare has encouraged individuals facing gambling addiction to seek assistance from medical professionals.
- Author
Daniel Williams
