Japan has moved a step closer to potentially blocking illegal online casino websites after an expert panel at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications broadly approved a draft report outlining a new framework, as reported by local media.
The proposal would allow internet service providers to restrict access to designated gambling sites. However, the panel stopped short of recommending immediate implementation, citing concerns over the constitutional protection of communication secrecy.
Currently, website blocking in Japan is limited to child pornography cases, and expanding it to online casinos would require telecom companies to check user traffic destinations, raising legal and privacy issues.
Support for tougher action was evident during the panel’s discussions. Noriko Tanaka, head of the Society Concerned About Gambling Addiction, said illegal operators were targeting young people and expressed strong backing for blocking measures.
The draft report noted that existing steps, including criminalizing social media posts directing users to casino sites and urging foreign jurisdictions to restrict access, have shown “a certain degree of effectiveness,” but challenges remain.
A survey by Nomura Research Institute found little change in the accessibility of overseas casino platforms from within Japan, while awareness that online casino gambling is illegal remains at about 60%.
Meanwhile, enforcement actions have increased. According to National Police Agency data, 317 individuals were investigated in 2025 for suspected online gambling offenses, the highest figure since records began in 2018. Authorities said most cases involved individuals acting independently rather than organized groups.
Blocking would require telecom providers to filter user traffic, raising concerns over the constitutional right to secrecy of communications
