Society

Japan taking a complicated road to casino legalization

Mar 19 (newsonjapan.com) - Betting is amongst the most popular recreational activities in the world and is enjoyed in most countries. Despite this, gambling has remained elusive in Japan as the country has been generally cool to the concept of betting.

However, changes are happening in Japan and online casinos are driving an increasing love of betting.

While there are traditional casinos in Japan, they have not been embraced in the same way they were in Europe and the United States. Online casinos are different, and this area of the market is appealing directly to the Japanese love of colorful entertainment and gaming. People in the country are heading to venues like nihonlinecasino.com and falling in love with casino games and online slots.

It's been a rocky road for Japan to fully accept betting as a form of entertainment. Certainly, red-tape regulations have often blocked the expansion of gambling, but opinions appear to be changing. Bricks and mortar casinos have been legal in Japan for around 2 years in a limited capacity, but online casinos were not included in this initial acceptance.

That said, online casinos have always been widely available in Japan, with one important caveat. Local law does not allow online casinos that are hosted in Japan. There has been no regulatory block to stop Japanese consumers accessing online casinos held outside the country, such as those in Europe.

Steps Towards Legalization

In recent years, the political establishment in Japan has started to relax its stance on gambling. The country always took a conservative but also contradictory approach to betting. Japan banned casinos because governments classed casino games as ones of chance. At the same time, so-called "skill games" like horse racing and lotteries were legalized.

A pro-casino legislation was tabled and approved in July 2018 that will allow bricks and mortar casinos to be developed. However, a bidding process for casino companies to enter specific cities is still underway and no locations are open at the time of writing. It is worth pointing out online casinos were not included in the legislation.

Dubbed the Casino Bill, the legislation clears the way for the casino industry to grow organically within Japan. Interestingly, if it was top open to gambling, Japan would instantly become the third-largest betting market in the world.

Again, this does not mean online casinos have been taken out of the equation entirely. While it is illegal for companies to operate online gambling sites in Japan, individuals are free to play at offshore online sites. This situation is unlikely to change because the government can't control where people play.

As in any other country, online casinos are popular in Japan as a form of recreation. Available on PC and smartphones, these casinos provide quick access to betting games. Japanese players can play offshore online casinos with all the perks any other person can. It is hoped in the coming years that the country's increasingly liberal approach to gambling will allow native Japanese online casinos to open and become legally available.

Year-End Chaos in Shibuya: Street Drinking, Brawls, and Ambulance Dispatches

The streets of Shibuya became a chaotic scene during the year-end party season, with excessive drinking leading to public disorder. People were found sleeping on the streets, fights broke out among groups of young revelers, and police and emergency services were frequently called to intervene.

New Japanese Passport Applications to Go Online

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has unveiled a new passport design set to be issued from March next year. The new system will allow online applications not only for renewals but also for new passport requests. Submitting an original family register certificate will no longer be required for online applications.

Future of Solar Power: Japan's Breakthrough Technology

The next generation of solar cells, known as perovskite solar panels, are ultra-thin, lightweight, and bendable. The Japanese government has set a goal of achieving the equivalent of the energy output from 20 nuclear reactors with perovskite solar cells by 2040. With their use set to expand in various locations next year, 2024 is being called "the dawn of domestic perovskite."

Record 7,000 Teachers in Japan on Leave Due to Mental Health

The number of teachers taking mental health leave reached a record high of 7,119 in the 2023 fiscal year at public schools across Japan.

Japan Reports 60% Rise in Non-Consensual Intercourse Cases

Japan's Ministry of Justice has released this year’s crime white paper, revealing that the number of recognized penal code offenses increased for the second consecutive year.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Santa Drops Presents Over Southern Islands

Santa takes to the skies, delivering presents to southern islands. From the rear of an open transport aircraft, boxes equipped with parachutes descend to the ground, marked by the glow of a blue light. These deliveries, bringing joy to residents of remote islands in the South Pacific, are part of an international joint exercise involving Japan's Air Self-Defense Force since 2015.

Japan Reports 60% Rise in Non-Consensual Intercourse Cases

Japan's Ministry of Justice has released this year’s crime white paper, revealing that the number of recognized penal code offenses increased for the second consecutive year.

Suspect Nabbed Following Brutal Kitakyushu Stabbings

Police in Kitakyushu have arrested Masanori Hirahara, a 43-year-old unemployed man living near the crime scene, on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the stabbing of two junior high school students at a fast-food restaurant.

Drug Shortages Worsen as Influenza Surges Across Japan

Influenza cases in Japan have surged since early December, with a sharp increase in patient reports per medical institution. At a Towa Pharmaceutical factory in Yamagata, demand has exceeded supply despite last year’s facility expansion.

Skeleton Found in Author's 'Garbage House'

Police have arrested Takashima Nozomu, a 64-year-old author on suspicion of leaving a body in his apartment in Shinagawa, Tokyo.

Elderly Woman Stabbed at Kobe Subway Station

An elderly woman was stabbed by another woman inside Kobe’s Sannomiya subway station, leading to the suspect’s arrest at the scene on charges of attempted murder.

Japan to Accept Unusual Baby Names

Japanese 'kira-kira names,' with atypical pronunciation or meaning, could soon be partially accepted under certain conditions, according to proposed guidelines from Japan's Ministry of Justice.

Grief and Anxiety Grow After Fatal Kitakyushu Stabbing

The mourning ceremony for 15-year-old Nakashima Saya, who was fatally stabbed at a fast-food restaurant in Kitakyushu City, was held on Tuesday. The attack, which took place four days ago, left Nakashima dead and a male student seriously injured with a deep wound near his waist. Police continue to search for the suspect, who fled the scene immediately after the attack.

< 2 3 4 5 >