คณะกรรมการของรัฐบาลเรียกร้องอีกครั้งให้ปิดกั้นเว็บไซต์การพนันในญี่ปุ่น
Japan is continuing to examine whether illegal online casino websites should be blocked, with a government-appointed expert panel calling for the measure to still play a role in tackling offshore gambling.
The panel, established under Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), released its latest report after reviewing public feedback and studying whether website blocking could be introduced both technically and legally.
While no final decision has been made, the report keeps blocking on the table as one of several options being considered to tackle illegal online gambling.
Calls after panel suggestions
According to the panel, preventing users from accessing offshore casino websites could be an effective way to reduce gambling activity, particularly as many of these operators continue targeting Japanese players despite the country’s strict gambling laws.
The latest report also included the results of a public consultation held during May and June. Officials received comments from 236 organisations, businesses and individuals, with most supporting the idea of website blocking.
Many respondents said blocking would reduce opportunities for young people to access illegal gambling platforms and argued that existing measures alone were no longer enough to deal with the growing problem.
Some also pointed to the wider social harm linked to illegal online gambling, saying stronger intervention would benefit the public. However, the proposal remains controversial. One of the biggest concerns raised by legal experts relates to Japan’s constitutional protection of the secrecy of communications.
Critics question privacy rights
Blocking websites could require telecommunications companies to inspect internet traffic in order to identify which sites users are trying to access. Critics argue that such monitoring could interfere with individual privacy rights and should therefore only be considered if less restrictive measures fail to produce results.
Experts attending the latest meeting expressed differing opinions. Some supported keeping blocking as part of the government’s toolkit, while others said it should only be introduced if illegal gambling continues growing despite other enforcement efforts.
Rather than relying solely on website blocking, Japan has already begun implementing several other measures. The government is moving to make it illegal for social media posts to direct users to online casino websites. Authorities are also asking overseas jurisdictions where many gambling operators are based to help prevent access from Japan.
Final decision awaited
These non-blocking measures will be reviewed before any final decision is taken. The government is expected to assess their effectiveness as early as this autumn, after which it will decide whether stronger action, including website blocking, is necessary.
The expert panel itself has been examining the issue for more than a year. Formal discussions began in April 2025, followed by a draft framework later that year. Another draft report was published in April 2026, and the latest findings are just another part of the process.
The panel was originally established as illegal online gambling became an increasing concern for Japanese authorities, particularly with the rapid growth of offshore betting platforms that remain easily accessible through the internet.
Its role has been to examine not only whether website blocking could work technically, but also whether such a policy could be introduced without conflicting with constitutional protections. But for now, the government appears centred on getting stronger enforcement of individual rights.
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