Panel Backs Framework to Block Illegal iGaming Sites in Japan

(AsiaGameHub) –   In Japan, an expert committee has proposed a draft framework that would permit authorities to block illegal online casino sites—potentially the start of a series of stricter regulations targeting illegal gambling activities.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications initiated this framework and believes blocking access to offshore gambling sites could help reduce the number of young people harmed by gambling. Several legal and constitutional questions must also be addressed before advancing any measures related to blocking illegal online gambling or other unlawful gambling practices.

Expert panel members have expressed support for tougher actions against illegal operators, as these entities are highly exploitative and cannot be effectively controlled under existing regulations.

Noriko Tanaka, a panel member and head of the Society Concerned About Gambling Addiction, stated:

These organizations are truly malicious. Young people can easily fall victim to them, so I strongly hope they will be blocked.

The framework concludes that conditions for introducing blocking measures may already exist, given the widespread access to online gambling sites and the continued growth of unlicensed platforms. Under the proposed framework, telecommunications providers will be required to block access to identified illegal sites.

In addition to potential access blocking, the framework raises privacy concerns: telecommunications providers would need to monitor individual users’ internet traffic to detect attempts to access blocked sites, which sparks worries about surveillance and possible violations of Japan’s communications privacy laws.

Experts have emphasized that these risks must be carefully evaluated, and the report views internet blocking as a last-resort measure.

Joji Shishido commented:

Blocking websites is the final step in the overall effort to eliminate harm from online casinos. If this measure is implemented, the government needs to take a far more serious approach to building the necessary system.

Japan has already introduced alternative measures, including banning social media promotion of illegal casinos and collaborating with foreign jurisdictions to limit access. These steps have shown “a certain degree of effectiveness,” per the report, though access to offshore sites remains widespread.

Data from Blask indicates that interest in online gambling may already be declining. User activity dropped significantly throughout 2025 and into early 2026, alongside a fall in estimated market revenue—suggesting demand could be cooling even before stricter controls are introduced.