Japan Moves Closer to Blocking Illegal Online Casinos as Government Panel Backs New Framework

By Yasuaki Kobayashi and Takuya Ono / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

1:00 JST, April 26, 2026

A panel of experts at the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has broadly approved a draft report on blocking websites, a measure that would forcibly cut off access to such websites.

The government is now expected to decide whether to introduce the measure after taking other actions against online casinos in line with a framework set out in the draft report. The move marks a step forward in discussions on strengthening countermeasures.

Supportive views

“These [illegal casino] organizations are truly malicious. Young people can easily fall prey to them, so I strongly hope they will be blocked,” Noriko Tanaka, a member of the expert panel and head of the Society Concerned About Gambling Addiction, said at the meeting.

Several other experts also expressed support for the measure, with one saying, “It is necessary to consider blocking websites as a measure against online casinos.”

The draft report acknowledged that the measure could be effective in preventing younger people from using the websites and indicated that certain conditions for its introduction had been met.

At the same time, it stopped short of deciding whether the measure should actually be implemented, out of concern for its impact on the secrecy of communications, a right guaranteed by the Constitution and other laws.

Website blocking is a measure that forcibly prevents access to specific websites. Internet service providers block access based on a list of prohibited sites that have been identified as problematic. In Japan, the measure is currently used only against child pornography websites.

To be carried out, telecommunications companies would have to check the destinations of communications made by all users. This would inevitably raise concerns over the secrecy of communications, which protects people from having the contents of their communications known to others.

If other measures, such as deleting social media posts, prove sufficient to reduce harm, the need to go as far as blocking websites would decrease. For that reason, the expert panel said it would be appropriate to first exhaust other countermeasures.

Evaluating current measures

The focus will now shift to the government’s review of how effective the current measures against online casinos have been.

The government has already pursued a range of steps other than website blocking, including making it illegal for social media posts to direct users to casino sites and asking countries connected to overseas casino operators to refuse access from Japan. These efforts are beginning to produce results.

The draft report said “a certain degree of effectiveness has been observed” from measures taken so far by the public and private sectors.

Still, challenges remain. According to a survey by Nomura Research Institute, there were no major changes in users’ experience of accessing online casinos before or after the public-private efforts. In many cases, overseas casino sites from Japan remained accessible.

Awareness that gambling on casino sites is illegal remained unchanged at about 60%. Referring to these points, the draft report said, “Further improvement is needed to raise awareness of illegality and related issues,” and called for additional efforts.

Experts advise caution

Masahiro Sogabe, a Kyoto University professor who chaired the expert panel, summed up the discussion by saying, “The report organizes the issues that would need to be considered if websites were to be blocked.” He hopes that, going forward, careful discussions will take place in another forum based on the decision-making framework presented this time.

“Blocking websites is the final button to be pressed within the overall effort to eliminate harm caused by online casinos,” said Joji Shishido, a University of Tokyo professor specializing in constitutional law. “If the measure is to be implemented, the government needs to take a much more serious approach to building the necessary system.”