Japan Govt Panel Says Blocking of Illegal Online Casinos Effective, But Final Decision on Implementation to Be Decided After Other Measures Considered

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:03 JST, April 25, 2026

An expert panel of the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry on Friday compiled a draft report that acknowledges the effectiveness of forcibly blocking access to online casino sites to prevent their use. It is illegal to use online casinos in Japan.

The panel, which was tasked with considering measures against the illegal use of the sites, said that implementing the measure should not be ruled out, but further consideration will take place before a final decision is made.

The panel’s main focus during discussions was the introduction of blocking, with four requirements set for the measure’s implementation: necessity and effectiveness; the scale of social benefits from its introduction; whether amendments to legislation is necessary; and the specifics of the blocking system. The panel considered that measures to block the casinos should only be put in place if all of these criteria have been met and has been confirmed to work.

The draft report, which was presented the same day, stated that a decision on whether to implement blocking should only be made after thoroughly examining the effectiveness of other measures. However, it also noted that the effectiveness of blocking cannot be denied.

With regards to social benefits, the report pointed out that blocking could result in the loss of public interest, including the “secrecy of any means of communication” which is guaranteed under the Constitution and other laws. On the other hand, it described “the prevention of gambling addiction and of the spread of illegal online casinos” as benefits that could be gained through blocking.

The act of blocking, which prevents users from accessing to websites, is considered to be an effective measure to prevent the use of online casinos. However, implementing the measure would require telecommunications companies to monitor the access of all users, potentially violating the “secrecy of any means of communication.” Given the significant impact on the public, the draft report says that blocking should be a “last resort,” and called for making amendments to legislation if it were to be introduced.

The government intends to further advance the implementation of measures against the use of online casinos outside blocking, while also verifying the effectiveness of these measures. If it is found that sufficient prevention cannot be achieved through other measures, the government is expected to seriously consider the implementation of blocking.

The expert panel was set up in April last year in light of the serious issues that have emerged from the use of illegal online casinos. It aims to complete a final report this summer.