Tag Archive: Gambling in Japan

After waiting what seems like an eterity, Japan will finally be getting its first land-based casino in Osaka. However, this has coinsidered with a rise in social awareness about gambling related problems. Many Japanese people don't ike the idea of yet more gambling opportunities, as the country is already experiencing issues with gambling addiction. As getting anything resolved in Japan requires political savvy, expect the project to be done, but only after encountering many hic-cups.

You have to remember that for most intents and purposes, gambling is forbidden in Japan. Horse racing is one of the very few sports you're allowed to place bets on. On race days and official public holidays, many Japanese people like to dress up smartly and make their way to the Japanese racecourses. There they will study the form cards and make very conservative wagers. It's an enjoyable day out, but the focus is more about having a pleasant time, than trying to win as much money as possible.

In the past, many parents were telling their children that playing video games was a waste of time. But today, there are eSports players who are making some serious bank, pulling in millions of dollars in prize money, as well as millions more in lucrative sponsorship deals. Because you can play online and need no real-world skills or a higher level of education, then everyone has an equal chance to make it big by playing their favourite video games. So it's no surprise Esports are so popular.

Traditionally the Japanese have always been wary of all forms of gambling. They are most concerned with the social problems that come hand in and with gambling games. As a direct result of this, many forms of gambling are illegal as well as forbidden. As such, only a handful of games ate allowed. These include some sports, like horse, motorsport and bicycle racing. There are just a couple of other gambling activities allowed, including three types of lottery and the popular game of Pachinko.

Though gambling was always a popular past time in Japan, it has been banned for many years. There are no western-style casinos to play in. So Japanese players looking for casino games are now going online. The Japanese are very shy about sharing their information over the internet, which makes the online casino sign up process more difficult. Casino companies now give away sign up bonuses in the way of luxury goods. This has helped grow and cement Japan's love for online gambling.