Country · Japan Live data · 9 Nov 2026
New online casinos in Japan
7 Of the 16 casinos on our list do not block Japan
Online casino gambling is illegal in Japan. The Penal Code of 1907 punishes gambling by players, police have arrested people who played at offshore casinos from Japan, and an amendment in force since 25 September 2025 bans running online casino sites aimed at people in Japan and directing them there.
The casinos below are licensed offshore and accept players from Japan by their own terms. A casino accepting a country does not make playing legal there. Filipinos working abroad fall under the law of the country they are in, not Philippine law, for anything they do there.
Japan's online casino legal status is Prohibited. Japan's governing law for gambling is the Penal Code. This page explains what that law covers, why a foreign licence does not help a player in Japan, and what the offshore listing below can and cannot tell you.
- Offshore licences only
- Players can be prosecuted
By Leticia "Letty" Santos | Updated 5 Nov 2026
- Legal status
- Banned in force 1 Oct 1908
- Not blocking Japan
- 7 of 16 on our list
- New, not blocking Japan
- 2 of 6 founded 2024–2026
- Licence stated most
- Anjouan License 4 of 7
- Joined in 2026
- 0 all ages
Legal risk · Japan
Online casino play is a crime in Japan
Playing from Japan is gambling under the Penal Code: a fine of up to ¥500,000, and prison of up to three years for habitual gambling. A foreign licence is no defence.
1 Oct 1908
Short answer
Can players in Japan use new online casinos?
Offshore casinos accept players from Japan, but playing from there is an offence under the Penal Code, and Japanese police have prosecuted players. If you live or work in Japan, do not play at online casinos while you are there.
- Legal status
- Banned in force 1 Oct 1908
- Not blocking Japan
- 7 of 16 on our list
- New, not blocking Japan
- 2 of 6 founded 2024–2026
- Licence stated most
- Anjouan License 4 of 7
Ranking
Offshore casinos accepting players from Japan, ranked
Our ranking of the casinos that do not block Japan in their terms, every age. It is shown for comparison and does not make playing legal.
| Casino | Age | Licence (stated) | Welcome offer | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 yrs · 2017 since 7 Jul 2023 | Anjouan License, Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos Mexico | ¥3,000,000 + 1 Free Spin | |
| 2 | Year 2 · 2025 since 11 Nov 2025 | Anjouan License | ¥300,000 | |
| 3 | Year 2 · 2025 since 17 Jul 2025 | Anjouan License | ¥70,000 + 50 Free Spins | |
| 4 | 7 yrs · 2019 since 17 Dec 2020 | Anjouan License | ¥70,000 + 200 Free Spins | |
| 5 | 3 yrs · 2023 since 2 Jun 2025 | Curaçao | ¥300,000 + 380 Free Spins | |
| 6 | Year 3 · 2024 since 14 Jul 2026 | Curaçao | ¥200,000 + 150 Free Spins |
Ranking: our ranking for this page, read 9 Nov 2026. Offers as stated by the casino; licences as each casino states them.
The law
The law in Japan
Articles 185 and 186 of the Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907) punish gambling, habitual gambling and running a gambling place. Advertising online casinos to people in Japan is banned.
- Law
- Penal Code
- Citation
- Act No. 45 of 1907
- Legal status
- Banned
- Enacted
- 24 Apr 1907
- In force
- 1 Oct 1908
- Licensing model
- no licences issued (online casinos banned)
- Advertising
- banned
- Penalties
- player · fine · up to ¥500,000 · Gambling (Penal Code Art. 185); player · prison · up to 36 months · Habitual gambling (Penal Code Art. 186(1)); operator · prison · up to 60 months · Running a gambling place for profit, 3 months to 5 years (Penal Code Art. 186(2))
Sources: Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907), Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice
Launch register
New casinos that do not block Japan
Founded 2024 or later, newest first, by the date each one joined our list. Vermilion stamp: first year. Green: second or third year. 2 in total.
11
/25
November 2025
1 added
- Anjouan License ₱110,000 Year 2 · 2025 founded 2025
07
/25
July 2025
1 added
- Anjouan License ₱30,000 + 50 Free Spins Year 2 · 2025 founded 2025
Our list, read 9 Nov 2026. Date = the day the casino joined our list; the month it launched is not in our data yet, only the founding year. Offers as stated by the casino.
In depth
Japan: what to know
For Filipinos in Japan
Japan is a common destination for Filipino workers and students. Japanese police have arrested players of offshore casinos, and a foreign licence or a foreign account does not protect you. Wait until you are back in the Philippines.
What the Penal Code says about online casino play in Japan
Japan's gambling law is the Penal Code, cited as Act No. 45 of 1907. The Penal Code was enacted in 1907, long before online casinos existed. The Penal Code therefore says nothing about the internet, and it is applied to online play through its general gambling articles.
The Penal Code separates three offences. Gambling by a player falls under Article 185. Habitual gambling falls under Article 186(1). Running a gambling place for profit falls under Article 186(2). The player offences carry lower maximum penalties than the operator offence, but they are still criminal offences. A reader should treat them as a real risk and not as a technicality.
Why a foreign licence does not change the position in Japan
Offshore casinos hold licences from other jurisdictions. Those licences authorise the operator under the rules of the issuing country. They do not authorise a player to gamble in Japan. Japan's licensing model for online casinos is Prohibited, so Japan has no licence of its own for a player to look for.
Japan's rule on advertising online casinos is Gambling advertising banned. The ban reaches the practice of directing people in Japan to online casino sites, and it took effect with the amendment of 25 September 2025. The amendment targets operators and promoters first. It does not remove the Penal Code offences that apply to the players themselves.
Other forms of gambling in Japan
Japan treats each form of gambling under its own rules, and online casinos are only one of them. Japan's legal status for esports betting is Prohibited. Japan's legal status for online lotteries is Restricted. A lottery is governed by a separate statute from the Penal Code, so a rule that applies to lottery tickets does not carry over to casino games.
Japan's legal status for crypto assets is legal and regulated. That is a financial rule and not a gambling rule. A crypto-friendly casino can accept a Japanese player at the deposit stage, but the player is still gambling when the bet is placed.
What Filipino players in Japan should do
Filipino workers and students in Japan fall under Japanese law for what they do in Japan. A Philippine passport, a Philippine bank card or a casino account opened at home does not change that. The safest course for a reader in Japan is to leave online casinos alone until they are back in the Philippines, where the rules of the local market apply instead.
A casino that accepts Japan in its terms is describing its own policy. The policy says who may open an account. It does not say that the player is safe from prosecution. Readers who are not in Japan can use the ranking below as a comparison of operators, with the same checks that apply to every country page on this site.
Questions
Japan: questions
Is online casino play legal in Japan?
No. Gambling is an offence under the Penal Code, and that includes playing at offshore online casinos from Japan.
What are the penalties?
Up to ¥500,000 in fines for gambling, and up to three years in prison for habitual gambling. Running a gambling place for profit carries up to five years.
What changed in 2025?
An amendment in force since 25 September 2025 bans running online casino sites for people in Japan and directing people in Japan to them.
I am a Filipino working in Japan. Can I use my casino account there?
No. Japanese law applies to you while you are in Japan, and playing is an offence.
Does a foreign casino licence protect a player in Japan?
No. A licence from another country covers the operator under that country's rules only. Japan's licensing model for online casinos is Prohibited, so Japan issues no licence that a player could rely on. The Penal Code applies to a player whatever licence the site holds. Our responsible gaming page explains how to set limits and why checking the local law comes before any deposit.
Why does Japan have a casino ranking if play is illegal?
The ranking is a comparison of casinos that do not block Japan in their terms. It does not tell a reader in Japan that playing is allowed. Casinos accept or refuse a country by their own terms, and those terms describe the operator's rules, not Japanese law. The order of the list follows how we rank casinos, which is the same method used on every country page.
Where can I get help if gambling is already a problem?
Gambling problems are not limited to players who break the law, and legal risk can make them harder to talk about. A player in Japan who is worried about their play can still ask for help without naming a site. The gambling addiction page lists warning signs and support services, and Gambling Therapy offers free online support in English.
Where do I find the legal position in other countries?
Each country page sets out the local law, the main penalties and a casino ranking for that market. Japan is one of several Asian markets on this site, and the rules differ sharply between them. The full list of markets is on the countries hub.
Responsible gaming
Play only if you are 21+ and it stays fun
These rules apply on every page of this site. A young casino has less history to judge it by, so the limits matter more.
Adults only, everywhere
You must be 21 or older, and older in some countries. A casino can ask for ID before your first withdrawal, and new casinos often do.
Responsible gamingStart small with an unknown casino
Deposit an amount you would accept losing to a failed withdrawal, and request a small cash-out early to see how the casino handles it.
How we review new casinosSet limits before the welcome offer
Bonus wagering keeps you playing longer. Set a deposit limit and a time limit in the account before you claim.
Set your limitsFree, confidential support
If playing stops being fun, talk to someone. Gambling Therapy offers free support in many languages.
Problem Gambling Helpline (02) 8248 9568 · PAGCOR self-exclusion · Gambling Therapy · Addiction help