How to Gamble Legally in Japan in 2021

If a year ago most of the gambling market was localized in North America and Europe, today gambling in Japan is considered one of the most promising areas of activity. Asia has become a completely new foothold, which has practically no points of contact with the classic entertainment characteristic of Western states. Operators who have mastered the Asian market are rather secretive: there are no training conferences, reference books, and more or less effective methods of attracting an audience in the online sphere. At the same time, the government apparatus of Japan began active work on the development and regulation of the gambling industry. In this article, let’s figure out how to gamble legally in Japan. 

The Current Situation in The Japanese Gambling Market

The Asian region is the birthplace of the gambling industry. Indeed, it was in Japan that the concept of a casino first appeared. However, after the appearance of the first debtors and the massive spread of addiction, this activity was banned for a long time. Nevertheless, today the situation has changed dramatically. A wide variety of gambling entertainments are operating on the territory of the country. Moreover, Asia has become a “trendsetter” in the market. For example, in online gambling sites in Japan , slots with elements of 3D graphics and VR spaces are extremely common.

Another significant difference: Japanese players are extremely wary of global money platforms popular in overseas markets – Neteller and PayPal. At the same time, more than 67% of the country’s population actively uses bitcoin wallets for settlements. All in all, the gambling market in Japan offers tremendous opportunities for the spread of cryptocurrency. Online gambling sites in Japan are welcoming more and more players. Today, you can even make Japan’s Next Prime Minister Betting Prediction, and win!

How to Gamble Legally in Japan: Popular Ways of Entertainment

Those interested in gambling might want to look into legal gambling such as sports betting. Indeed, Keiba (Horse Racing) is popular in the country. The Japan Racing Association (JRA) is the regulatory body for all major races in Japan. It has ten racecourses and 43 Off-Track Betting (OTB) facilities that allow you to place your bets over the phone and online. While the country also has racing tracks that are not subject to the JRA, many of the big players focus mainly on JRA tracks due to the quality of the tracks and races. Non-JRA tracks are not part of the Japanese Racing Association. However, they are also legal and popular among gamblers. The only difference is that they are run by local authorities and the competition is on a smaller scale. Check the list of Best Japanese Athletes Right Now to increase your chances of winning.

Playing the lottery is also a tempting gambling activity in Japan as winnings are tax-free. However, gamblers should keep in mind that they can only take home 45% of the total prize money. Up to 40% goes to local authorities, 12% goes to administrative expenses, 1% goes to special social security, and the rest goes to operating expenses. Meanwhile, Toto is the last gambling game on our list. Toto consists of bets on J-League (Japanese Professional Football League) games. Toto places its bets through authorized kiosks ideally located in convenience stores and gas stations. There are over 6,000 Toto stalls in the country. Bookmaker lists cost 100 yen. However, payouts can be as high as 100 million yen. As with the lottery, prizes are also tax-deductible. Visit the 1XBet Casino to try your luck!

Online Gambling

The Japanese gambling business on the Internet is represented by several most large-scale and widespread areas:

• Slots “Pachinko” is based on one of the billiard strategies. The game is in the form of a series of obstacles for balls, which are controlled by the user. Thus, the player sets the speed of movement of the elements and can exchange balls for additional games or cash prizes. Indeed, “Pachinko” is a unique hybrid of billiards and slot machines. After the ball hits the winning position, the reels are activated. Finally, the winning goes to the user who managed to collect a combination of several identical pictures.
• Mahjong is a virtual dice game for four players. Indeed, Mahjong attracts people with simple rules. Thus, the participant needs to collect the largest combination to win.
• “Super Mario” is a novelty on the gambling market. According to the rules, the client of the institution will have to assemble a line of three identical icons depicting recognizable characters of the game. A unique feature of Japan’s slot machines is the built-in Gacha function (there is a possibility to purchase additional bonus items). It is one slot machine built into another. And this is how to gamble legally in Japan.

How to Gamble Legally in Japan: Poker and Lottery

Poker is perhaps the least popular form of gambling in Japan. Indeed, live poker is illegal in Japan. However, there are several underground poker clubs in the country that host illegal games. Participation in such games is illegal and punishable by fines. This is why most Japanese poker enthusiasts choose safe online poker games that are not played for money. Therefore, a lot of online gambling sites in Japan have demo modes.

Meanwhile, there are several types of lotteries in Japan. From a gambling point of view, this is the easiest way to spend money – buy a ticket and wait for the result. This can be done at one of the countless lottery kiosks or counters. In addition to the popular Takarakuya, there is a type of lottery where you need to select several numbers. Thus, if all or part of the match, you will receive a cash prize. This type of lottery includes “Bingo 5”, “Loto 7”, “Loto 6”, “Mini Loto”, “Numbers 3”, and “Number 4”. Indeed, the first two are especially popular. Most people do not consider the lottery to be a game of chance due to its widespread distribution around the world, which is why tickets in Japan are very popular among foreigners.

Where is It Legal To Gamble in Japan?

So how to gamble legally in Japan? There are many bookmaker booths or retail outlets in Japan distributed throughout the country. Indeed, there are over 12,000 pachinko salons in the country, ideally located near train stations. Lottery tickets can be easily purchased at convenience stores and department stores and within walking distance of train stations. Besides, some ATMs are capable of selling lottery tickets. Public races such as bike, boat, and motorcycle races also have ticket booths scattered throughout the major cities. Meanwhile, bets are also available for JRA and non-JRA tracks.

How to Gamble Legally in Japan: Industry Development Prospects

In Japan, the situation with gambling is rapidly changing. In 2016, parliament passed a law on the comprehensive promotion of resorts. Indeed, this changed the entire gambling landscape in a rather conservative country. Casino gambling has become partially legal, given that the gambling hall became part of the resort complex. The law stipulates that the resort must have an international conference room, hotel, and entertainment facilities. The law allows the country to issue three casino licenses. It also states that only 30% of gross income in the form of gambling tax goes to central and local governments, and the remaining 70% to casino operators.

Play areas within an integrated resort are limited to only 3% or less of the total area of ​​the complex. To curb addiction to gambling, Japanese residents must pay an entry fee of ¥ 6,000 and must visit the casino up to three visits per week and no more than 10 per month. Residents are required to provide their ID cards as part of identifying and monitoring their casino visits. Besides, relatives of gambling addicts can also require casino operators to ban or restrict their entry. Meanwhile, foreign guests and visitors can visit the casino for free.

More Prospects

According to experts, very soon, Japan has every chance of becoming the largest gambling market in Asia, many times ahead of even Macau in terms of performance. The state apparatus of the country not only actively supports online business. However, it also takes several measures to make the gambling industry an integral part of the tourism infrastructure. At the moment, there are no active sites yet, but the first objects of casino resorts are planned to open in 2024.

It is already known today that the area of ​​each of the entertainment complexes should be at least 100 thousand square meters and the number of hotel rooms – from 3300. As additional infrastructure elements, it is planned to organize mandatory conference zones and exhibition spaces. To advertise gambling establishments in Japan, they are planning to use banners on the territory of international airports and cruise ship terminals.

How to Gamble Legally in Japan: Conclusion

Already, several years before the opening of the first casino resort, the largest foreign operators are lining up to obtain a Japanese gambling license. Among the interested parties are such well-known industry leaders as Hard Rock International, Galaxy Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands. According to preliminary estimates, the industry’s annual profits could reach $ 40 billion. Indeed, it’s time to enter the gambling market and open up completely new horizons. Learn more about How to Gamble Online in Japan and visit the 1XBet Casino. Good luck!

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