While online gambling in Japan is technically illegal, Japan does not prosecute players for opting to have a crack at their favourite online casino games. In fact, the country tends to turn a blind eye towards the industry.
Japan doesn’t set forth any legislation to make gambling legal and even has laws that state that playing poker, blackjack, slots, and more is illegal. However, Japan does not prosecute players who choose to do so. Nor does Japan implement any sort of blacklist. What this means is that you are free to bet at any internet betting site that will support you. We’ll introduce you to a few top Japanese online casinos below.
The question isn’t so much, “is online casino gambling legal in Japan?”. It is more, “will I be prosecuted for playing illegal gambling games?” In both cases, the answer is no. While there are no legal gambling sites in Japan, the country does not stop you from betting at foreign sites; it doesn’t block them and does not prosecute nationals for visiting those domains.
The result is that the only legit Japanese online casinos out there are those based offshore. However, there are hundreds of these international casinos that accept players in Japan, giving Japanese players a wealth of options to choose from. We’ll cover many of those top casinos right here. First, though, let us look at each specific type of site to see what you must do if you want to bet online in Japan.
As touched on, legit Japan online casinos are those based offshore. Japan won’t stop you from visiting these sites or prosecute you for playing there. We recommend only playing at casinos that accept Japanese players and that are licensed, regulated and certified for fair play. Many of those appear on this page, and our team has selected the very best of them for you to choose from.
Online poker is illegal in Japan, but again, players won’t be prosecuted for playing poker games for real money. Just be sure that you choose an offshore site that is regulated and trustworthy before you decide to play.
Sports betting is legal in Japan, but it is run as a state monopoly. Only a handful of sports betting options exist, including betting on horses, motor-racing, but you can find a larger selection of options at offshore sites. Again, you won’t be punished for choosing to do so.
Japan has a state-sponsored lottery run by Takarakuji. These lottery games can be played online and legally. However, Japan doesn’t stop you from playing larger, international lottery games online, either.
Bingo is not legal in Japan, but it isn’t overly popular in the country, either. Those Japanese who did wish to play bingo online can do so at foreign sites, and they won’t get into any trouble if they choose to do so.
Because Japan hasn’t authorised any online casinos, the only real safe online casinos that Japan-based players can choose from are those located offshore. Our team has put together the ideal selection of the most trusted online casinos for Japanese players, and you can read online gambling reviews of these Japanese sites right here.
Each of our chosen sites is licensed and well-regulated. It also caters to players in Japan by offering either the USD or JPY currencies, alongside a selection of payment methods and support options that will appeal to Japanese players.
Japanese players can opt to play a wealth of gambling games. Online casinos that accept Japanese players should ensure that there are always new online casino games for players in Japan and that their collection doesn’t go stale. They should also provide RNG-certified games that have high RTP rates and a mixture of various volatility levels. These represent the best online casino games in Japan.
You don’t have to worry about top software in Japanese casinos. Microgaming casinos cater to players in Japan. The best NetEnt casinos offer Japan-based players action, too. Other software comes from:
Japanese players cannot deposit at an online casino with PayPal. Online casino deposits in Japan with VISA Debit are an option, though. You can also use the following options:
Most payment methods accept Japanese yen, but many Japanese players prefer to deposit using USD anyway. Our selected casinos also provide transactions without added charges and can process payments rapidly.
Japanese players sometimes prefer to deposit with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. This allows them to experience near-instantaneous withdrawal times and protect their location and identity through the anonymity that crypto gambling options provide.
The best bonuses at online casinos in Japan can be found in our reviews. We’ll tell you all about wagering requirements, minimum deposit limits, the amount you can claim, and any Japanese online casino bonus codes you may need to enter to trigger bonuses. Each of our reviews also covers the various types of bonuses you can claim, from welcome bonuses to loyalty rewards, monthly specials, tournaments and more.