Will Japan be forced to resort to extreme measures to curb illegal gambling?

(AsiaGameHub) –   Authorities in Japan are considering all available measures, including the potential implementation of website blocking, as illegal gambling activities in 2025 have reached unprecedented levels.

According to reports from The Japan News, these proposals are currently under discussion by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry and have been recognized as a viable strategy to reduce participation in online gambling platforms.

Nevertheless, concerns persist that enacting these measures could contravene Japan’s constitutional provisions regarding the ‘secrecy of any means of communication’.

Consequently, the Ministry views website blocking as a measure of last resort, to be employed only if other strategies prove ineffective in combating online gambling.

Last week, the National Police Agency reported taking enforcement actions against 317 individuals in 2025, marking a record high since data collection began in 2018. Among these individuals, 221 were arrested in connection with online casinos across 158 cases.

Online gambling is strictly forbidden in Japan. However, data from the NPA estimates that approximately 2 million people engage in online gambling annually, primarily by accessing overseas websites.

The estimated total wagers placed by players annually are projected to exceed ¥1.24 trillion (£5.76bn).

Is website blocking inevitable?

The panel tasked with analyzing the implementation of website blocking has stressed that specific criteria must be met before it can be approved.

These rules must be deemed necessary and effective, demonstrate a clear societal benefit, and the technical specifications of the blocking system must satisfy the panel.

Due to apprehensions about potential government overreach, which would necessitate internet service providers monitoring all user access, the use of website blocking has been infrequently considered.

Currently, such restrictions are exclusively in place to prevent access to child pornography websites.

Joji Shishido, a Professor at the University of Tokyo specializing in constitutional law, informed the panel: “Blocking websites is the final action to be taken within the broader effort to eradicate the harm caused by online casinos.

“If the measure is to be implemented, the government must adopt a significantly more serious approach to establishing the required system.”

Last year, Japan’s government introduced new legislation aimed at combating unlicensed gambling by prohibiting the operation and use of such sites, as well as their promotion through banner advertisements, affiliate marketing, and social media posts.

The report indicated that these efforts have shown ‘a certain degree of effectiveness’. However, it is evident that there is a demand for more impactful changes, which website blocking could provide.