Japan’s Online Gamblers Wager Over ¥1 Trillion Annually
In Japan, while online gambling remains illegal, a substantial number of individuals engage in betting on casino platforms based outside the country, collectively wagering more than ¥1 trillion each year. A recent study by Japan’s National Police Agency delved into the realm of online casinos, revealing that approximately 3.4 million people have tried their luck on these offshore sites, with 2 million actively participating. The average annual betting amount per person stands at ¥630,000, culminating in a staggering total of ¥1.24 trillion.
The research, conducted through a survey spanning from July to October 2024 and encompassing 27,145 respondents aged 15 to 79 across Japan, sheds light on the prevalence of online gambling. Within a subset of 500 online casino users, men significantly outnumbered women, constituting 67.6% and 32.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the age breakdown illustrates that nearly 60% of these users fall within the age brackets of their twenties (30.0%) and thirties (28.8%).
The study also scrutinized the betting habits of participants, revealing that the most common daily wagered amounts range from ¥5,000 to ¥10,000 (17.6%), closely followed by ¥10,000 to ¥30,000 (16.8%). Interestingly, the distribution of daily wagers varies across age groups, with teenagers predominantly betting ¥1,000 to ¥3,000, individuals in their forties favoring ¥5,000 to ¥10,000, and those in their fifties opting for ¥10,000 to ¥30,000. Surprisingly, individuals in their sixties tend to wager less than ¥500 as their most common daily amount, significantly lower compared to other demographics.
When it comes to winnings and losses, the survey respondents disclosed that the most frequent highest single-day winnings ranged from ¥10,000 to ¥30,000 (16.6%), while the most common highest single-day losses fell between ¥10,000 to ¥30,000 (15.8%). Alarmingly, 46.2% of participants admitted to resorting to loans from consumer finance entities or borrowing money from acquaintances due to their online gambling activities, with teenagers exhibiting the highest borrowing rate at 61.1%.
A critical revelation from the study is that 56.5% of respondents were aware of the illegality of online casino usage in Japan. Surprisingly, 39.8% of those who engaged in online gambling were oblivious to this fact, indicating a significant lack of awareness regarding the legal ramifications of their actions.
Moreover, the National Police Agency identified 40 overseas online casinos accessible from Japan, with 20 of them heavily reliant on Japanese traffic, notably Vera & John Casino at 96.18% and Yuugado at 99.66%. These platforms often entice users with free versions before encouraging them to transition to paid services, employing diverse online marketing tactics to drive user engagement and attract new participants.
In essence, the burgeoning trend of online gambling in Japan, despite its legal restrictions, underscores the pervasive allure of casino betting among a substantial segment of the population, necessitating a closer examination of the associated social and regulatory implications.