A shocking report by the Council for Sports Ecosystem Promotion revealed that Japanese bettors channeled a massive JPY6.45 trillion (US$45 billion) into illegal offshore sports gambling sites in 2024. This number dwarfs the amount spent on Japan’s own online casinos by fivefold, indicating an overwhelming trend towards international sports betting among Japanese citizens.
The figures were meticulously gathered using data from internet service providers and consultations with overseas experts. While it is not explicitly indicated whether the total represents turnover or revenue, it is clear that Japanese citizens are heavily favoring international sports betting sites over their domestic counterparts.
Intriguingly, Japanese gamblers haven’t shied away from domestic sports, betting around JPY1 trillion (US$6.94 billion) in total. This sum includes significant wagers placed on professional baseball, football, and basketball among other sports. Yet, this still pales in comparison to the colossal amounts placed on international events.
Following the release of the report, national attention has been cast on recent gambling scandals involving professional baseball players engaging with foreign betting sites. In a single disciplinary sweep, fines were imposed by Nippon Professional Baseball on multiple players across various teams, citing the misuse of illegal betting services.
Japan’s steadfast adherence to restrictive gambling policies has long limited betting to traditional sporting events, such as horse racing, bicycle racing, motorcycle racing, and speedboat racing. Despite the substantial revenue—JPY3.3 trillion (US$23 billion) from the Japan Racing Association and JPY2.5 trillion (US$17.4 billion) from boat racing—the government remains wary of expanding legal betting options.
The revelation of such extensive illegal betting activity indicates a persistent challenge for Japanese regulators. As offshore betting sites capture the imagination and wallets of Japanese citizens, authorities are tasked with confronting this expanding black market and ensuring the integrity of both international and domestic sports.
In light of the Council’s findings, the question now is how Japanese regulators will respond to the tide of illegal gambling, and whether an overhaul of Japan’s restrictive betting laws is imminent.