Japan Moves to Block Offshore Online Casinos and Ads: What It Means and Why It Caught Our Attention
Published: July 21, 2025 | Author: Ron Clarke
At Casin.com, the leading online casino portal, we always keep an eye on what’s happening in the world of online gambling, especially when it comes to new laws and rules that could change how people play. This time, we’re looking at Japan, where the authorities have announced a series of strong measures to block access to offshore online casinos and remove all advertising related to them.
Before we go into the details of the new law, it’s important to understand that online casino gambling is already illegal in Japan. Even if a website is based overseas and fully licensed elsewhere, using it from within Japan is considered a criminal offense. This means that players in Japan are not allowed to play any online casino games such as roulette, blackjack, or slot machines. What’s changing now is how the Japanese government plans to deal with these offshore sites and the way they reach Japanese players.
Let’s take a closer look at what Japan is doing, how the new rules will work, and why this move is interesting not just for Asia but for players and operators in Europe too.
New Rules Coming Into Effect in Japan
Japan recently approved changes to its law on gambling addiction, which will come into effect on 25 September 2025. From that date, it will be illegal not only to run an online casino that targets Japanese users but also to advertise it in any way. This includes banner ads, influencer content, affiliate links, and even websites offering “free versions” of casino games. All of this will be considered illegal content.
To make sure the rules are applied, the National Police Agency (NPA) has asked the Internet Hotline Center Japan to help monitor the web. This organization will accept reports from the public and also actively search the internet for anything that breaks the new rules. Internet providers and social media platforms will be asked to remove any content that encourages people in Japan to use offshore gambling sites.
A Closer Look at the Numbers
The move comes after a national survey showed that about 3.37 million people in Japan have used offshore online casinos. The estimated amount of money spent in a year was around ¥1.2 trillion, which is about $7.5 billion. Even more surprising, the survey revealed that nearly 40% of players didn’t know that online casino gambling is illegal in Japan.
With these numbers in hand, the government decided it was time to act.
Cooperation with Other Countries
Japan isn’t handling this on its own. The NPA has reached out to gambling authorities in eight countries and territories that are known for licensing online casinos. These include Malta, Curaçao, Gibraltar, Canada, Isle of Man, Costa Rica, Georgia, and Anjouan (part of the Comoros Islands). Japan is asking them to block access to these sites for users in Japan and to remove the Japanese-language versions of their platforms.
At the same time, a special group set up by the Ministry of Internal Affairs is looking into whether it’s possible to block access to illegal gambling sites at the DNS or IP level—something that could raise concerns about online freedom and privacy.
What About Italy?
In Italy, the situation is very different. Online gambling is legal and regulated. Players can choose from many licensed operators, and advertising is allowed, but only within certain limits. Since the introduction of the Dignity Decree in 2018, gambling ads on TV, radio, and the internet have been mostly banned, with some exceptions. However, unlike Japan, Italian players do not risk punishment for using foreign sites, though those sites are technically not authorized to operate in Italy.
This shows how countries are taking very different paths to manage the risks and challenges of online gambling.
Different Countries, Different Approaches
Japan’s decision adds a new layer to the conversation about how online gambling should be handled. While some countries focus on limiting advertising or requiring licenses, Japan is moving toward full removal of both the sites and the content that promotes them.
Every country is choosing its own strategy, and this new law shows just how far some governments are willing to go to control access to online gambling. For anyone interested in the future of digital gambling, whether as a player, operator, or observer, these developments are worth noting.
