Online Casino Japan • Full Gambling Info

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Japan flag
Country info
Capital
Tokyo
Population
126,440,000
Currency
Yen (¥) / En 円 (JPY)
Official languages
Japanese
Area
377,973 km2

Japan is a country characterized by the flourishing technology, busy population, and unique traditions. Most of these customs and traditions originate from ancient times and gambling is not an exception.

“Chronicle of Japan” found in the 18th century mentions that the first dice games were played in 685 AD by Emperor Temmu, but this activity was banned with the assumption of Empress Jito to the throne. At the end of the 8th century, gambling became favorite pastime of many citizens who wagered almost on everything including cockfighting, horse racing, and even any other kinds of competitions.

The beginning of the 13th century was the time when the first professional gamblers appeared in Japan. They were often involved in crimes and it led to the prohibition of gambling. However, no matter how severe the punishment for gambling was, samurai kept drinking, gambling, and whoring (nomu, utsu, kau).

In the 16th century, the Portuguese brought cards to Japan and local residents loved them. One of the most appreciated games was similar to the baccarat which is very popular in modern casinos. However, soon European cards were banned in the country and the Japanese invented their small cards to play.

In 1718, Japan faced a division of gambling into a light and large betting. Lotteries have become popular among the local population at that period too.

Gambling has become incredibly popular among the rural population in the 19th century and it led to the confrontations with authorities. The first gambling laws appeared in Japan in 1907 since the only legal type of gambling was betting on horse and bicycle racing. Later, motorbiking and boat racing were added to this list.

When Japan has finished its isolation policy in 1923, many new forms of gambling rocked the country. These were examples of games played in Europe and China as well as other neighboring countries. Despite years of the ban, gambling was allowed in the post-war period to be a source of revenue used for rebuilding the country after WWII and was banned again in several years.

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List of 44 Online Casinos in Japan

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Types of Online Casino in Japan

Gambling used to be considered an illegal activity in Japan and was prohibited by legislation by 2016. However, there is no official regulation of online gambling in the country, so Japan cannot boast even one local online casino because of the prohibition. There are land-based institutions where players can enjoy their local game called Pachinko and play on machines similar to upright pinball ones.

However, every gambler from Japan has excellent access to the Internet and can enter almost any foreign-based online casino. Local government is not interested in the gambling platforms located offshore, so there is full access to all the abundance of fascinating games for every player from Japan.

The illegal status of gambling in Japan is not a reason to get frustrated since local players have a wide choice of games offered in different online casinos.

1. Flash casino
Residents of Japan are avid users of computers so it is not surprising why they enjoy online casino games which can be easily accessed from any modern web browser. It is possible to enter the casino from any place without a necessity to download anything – the only software you need is a simple Flash player. Games are opened in the small window and run smoothly to guarantee the best experience you have ever had.

2. Mobile casino
What is interesting about Japan, local citizens have more than one phone. Only in 2013, it was 110% of the total state population, so you can understand what situation is now there. Moreover, they keep up with the trends and use smartphones and tablets which are perfect devices for playing in casinos. It may be the reason why more and more casinos which welcome players from Japan go mobile offering not only responsive website design but also comfortable and fast-operating apps for more exciting gameplay.

3. Live dealer casino
The latest trend of online gambling is, of course, live dealer casinos. Since gamblers from Japan have no access to terrestrial casinos, they adore feeling a similar atmosphere spending time in multiple live casinos operating online. What can be better than betting real money in games played against real rivals and managed by professional and good-looking dealers who are always ready to respond to you?

Types of Casino Games for Japanese Gamblers

Unlike European and American players, gamblers have another top of the best online casino games in Japan. Despite the great popularity of games that dominate the European gambling industry, most of the games preferred in Japan have an Asian touch. That is why even the top 3 games look different from other countries.
The highest-ranked games in Japan are Sic Bo, Mahjong, and Pachinko.

Sic Bo has become a chart-topper in the Asian market long ago, so its popularity in Japan is not surprising. Love for dice games dates back centuries in Japan, so there is nothing strange why this three dice game is known under several names including Big and Small, Dai Su, and Tai Sai and is played by thousands of people. The rules of the game are very simple though it does not make it less exciting. A player should choose a small or big bet and if he manages to guess what rolls out on dice, he or she will be a winner.

The second place in the rating of the best real money casino games in Japan is taken by Mahjong. Taking its origin in China, it has spread to other Asian countries and become the most frequently played game in online VIP casinos. In general, this game has two variants of rules to select from. Moreover, this is a game where you can show your skills and build strategies to get a prize, so its appreciation by the Japanese, a wise and well-read nation, is out of the question.

Although the whole world is keen on playing slots, players from Japan have their variant which combines features of a slot machine and a pinball machine. This game is called Pachinko and it is one of few legally accepted gambling games. The main goal of every player is to gather balls instead of coins. However, in real game centers, these balls can be exchanged for chips and the last ones can bring about you real money. The online version of the game is not less exciting, while prizes in online Pachinko are real money only.

Online Gambling Laws and Regulations in Japan

Japan is a country where citizens follow the laws and realize their significance. At the same time, the gambling industry of Japan is very limited and local players have to search for exciting gambling experience online to satisfy their desire for relaxation and real money winnings. If you compare gambling in Europe and the USA with one allowed in Japan, you will face a great difference. It is difficult to call this country a great place to gamble and the main reason for that is gambling legislation adopted.

Is online gambling allowed in Japan?

Unfortunately, only some gambling activities were considered legal in Japan, and these were only betting and lotteries until 2016. Land-based casinos were considered illegal, so you could not find any authorized terrestrial gambling institution to enjoy casino games. Only in 2018, Japan has leaped forward and its government approved the legalization of gambling on the integrated resorts in the country, so the first three land-based casinos are planned to be opened in the middle of 2020.

When it comes to online gambling, there is no distinct law that could explain its status in the country. However, if land-based gambling was considered illegal, there is a viewpoint that online casino games are not allowed too. At the same time, the government of Japan has made several steps forward to the legalization of the industry. In 2016, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suggested a bill which will be the first step to the creation of the Japanese gambling industry as a means to support the economy of Japan. The bill passed voting in the Parliament and it took more than a year to develop the casino framework in the country. Now Japan is one of those countries where casinos are opened for attracting tourists and increasing revenue, however, there is still not everything clear regarding online gambling in the country.

What is the main gambling law regulating gambling online in Japan?

Since gambling was not legal in Japan by 2018, there was no law regulating this industry. However, the Criminal Code chapter 23 says about a ban to participate in the gambling activity except for betting on horse races, bicycle races, motorcycle, and motorboat races. Players who visited land-based casinos could be punished with fines and even imprisonment for violating the law, but it has nothing to do with online platforms. There is no specific regulation for online gambling or social games, so it does not prevent gamblers in Japan from visiting foreign-based websites and enjoy the best casino games there without a fear to be punished.

At the same time, even though gambling has long been criminal activity in Japan, you can find over 20,000 entertainment centers run by Yakuza representatives (local mafia and gangsters). Moreover, 2018 has become a significant year for Japan because gambling was legalized on the integrated resorts in the country by the promotion law of December 2016 and it opened the door to 3 famous companies to open casino resorts in Japan. According to the new law of 2016, international visitors will visit new casinos free of charge while local citizens will have to pay 6,000 yen ($50) and be limited to 3 visits a week and 10 per month.

Best Deposit Methods for Japanese Gamblers

Even the official long-term ban on playing has not influenced its popularity in Japan. Players do not lose a chance to enjoy a variety of games online, but none of them can bring about real money winnings without a deposit made. That is why gamblers playing in Japan should understand which payment methods are accepted by the casino and which ones are suitable for the player. In fact, there are several most widely accepted deposit and withdrawal methods in Asian casinos.

1. Debit and credit cards /Bank and wire transfers
There is hardly any citizen of Japan who does not have an account in the bank and a card to pay with. That is why both debit and credit cards remain one of the most popular deposit methods. If you transfer money directly from the bank account, there is a minimum or zero commission and money is delivered very quickly. Holders of such popular card types as Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, AMEX, JCM can make almost any payment online and usually have to pay a transaction fee of 2-3% from the total amount.

2. E-wallets
Electronic payment systems are a very comfortable way to make money transactions. Their main advantages are almost instant delivery of money and low commission. It is also important to mention that payments are anonymous and accepted by a variety of companies in different countries.
The most popular e-wallets in Japan are Skrill and Neteller, however, there are many users of PayPal too. The good news is also the fact that almost every casino accepts payments from these wallets to provide access to its list of games as fast as possible.

3. Prepaid cards and vouchers
It is possible to deposit money in casinos using prepaid cards and vouchers. Players from Japan use prepaid cards as MasterCard, UnionPay, ecoPayz as well as prepaid vouchers including Paysafecard and transfer money to the gambling platforms quickly, safely, and easily.

4. Crypto wallets
Cryptocurrency such as BitCoin and Litecoin have become a very popular way to send money to the casino account thanks to the lowest commission and ease of both depositing and withdrawing money.

5. Mobile payment
Gamblers from Japan can send money to their casino account directly from their mobile device by using a special banking app. This payment method is only gaining popularity in Japan thanks to its ease and affordability.

Accepted Currencies in Japan

Though Japan is a small island country, its official currency – the Japanese yen – is the 3rd most traded currency in the global exchange market. Moreover, it is considered to be a reserve currency too next to the US dollar, Euro, and British pound sterling. The reason for that is the strong economy of Japan and the financial stability in the country. The exchange rate of 1 yen is equal to 0,0093 USD.

Online gambling platforms who welcome players from Japan will undoubtedly accept one of the world’s most traded currencies called yen, which is also an official currency in the country. Japanese players will hardly find any difficulty in depositing the Japanese yen to online casinos since this currency is widely accepted all around the globe. However, it is better to ensure that the gambling website a player from Japan has chosen for entertainment accepts deposits in yen and does not require currency exchange.

At the same time, gamblers playing online games in Japan can make deposits in other currencies which are considered to be the most traded by value on the globe too. Naturally, this is the top three currencies including the American dollar, the official currency of the European Unit Euro, and the national UK currency pound sterling. Almost every casino accepts all these coins in the form of money deposits. That is why players from Japan can exchange the currency they have to one of these top three and enjoy online casino games making bets from their casino account balance.

Customer Support

Japan is a country where citizens should be aware of all the details of the rules to follow them, so it is not surprising that players from this country might have some questions or inquiries to get the most of playing in online casinos. That is the reason why every gambling platform has an experienced customer support team who is always ready to provide answers to the questions and explanation connected with casino gambling.

Naturally, every website has its way to connect with the customer support representatives. At the same time, most of the casinos prefer to communicate with their customers in the following ways:
1. Chat
A customer support team member of the casino chat is usually available round the clock and offers quick and short answers to the questions connected with gambling in the casino.
2. Email
Players from Japan can find an email address of the customer support in the contact information of the casino and explain the issue they are interested in there. Usually, it is necessary to wait for a day or two to get answers to such inquiries.
3. Phone
It is possible to explain any problems players from Japan face on the casino website verbally if you call the casino representative. It is an easy way to get your questions answered but it is important not to forget that such calls can be costly since gamblers have to call abroad from Japan.
4. FAQ
The solution to the problems faced by players from Japan can be found in the FAQ section of the website. However, it is necessary to know English well or choose the Japanese language of there is one on the list.

Predictions About the Future of Online Gambling in Japan

Japan has long been regarded to be the state where gambling is far from being the best activity to take up. But the situation has changed with the adoption of Law in 2016, which allows both foreigners and locals to enjoy gambling. Naturally, residents of Japan are subjected to certain limits in gambling and will have to spend money to play in the terrestrial casinos which are going to be soon opened on the territory of Japan. However, it is a real breakthrough for the state where gambling has been under a ban for centuries. The adoption of this law has changed many predictions regarding gambling in Japan and mostly for the better.

The first scenario for the gambling sphere in Japan is undoubtedly flourishing and success since only the leaders of the world’s gaming companies have been approved to operate in Japan. It is guaranteed that gambling will be characterized by a top-notch quality in the country and it will only contribute to its success and revenue. Moreover, since there is no accurate regulation of online gambling in Japan, it is clear that a country, which has provided access to the land-based casinos officially, will do the same for online platforms too. So citizens of Japan have to wait for the new legislation as for online casinos which will probably be developed very soon and may lead to the creation of legal online platforms licensed in Japan.

It is not difficult to foresee that the casino industry of Japan will be also influenced by technology as the rest of the country and this state can become a leader in the introduction of VR and AI in the land-based and online gambling.

More general predictions about online gambling platforms in Japan are intertwined with the world trends in this industry. Many casino game websites get responsive and develop special apps to be available online, so the growth of mobile casino players in the future is natural. Another worldwide trend is connected with opening a bigger number of live dealer casinos, so gamblers will get more chances to enjoy live casino games in Japan too.

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Last Updated: Oct 21, 2021

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