In Japan, horse racing is a popular sport. Betting on races is also a common pastime, with many people making wagers at legal betting shops and online casinos. For those interested, ボンズカジノ is an online casino in Japan offering horse racing. While gambling on horse races is generally considered legal in the country, some restrictions apply specifically to online casino gambling.

In this article, we will look at those restrictions and discuss whether or not it is possible to bet on horse races at online casinos in Japan. 

Are Online Casinos Legal in Japan?

One of the biggest questions many people have about Japan, especially considering how popular gambling is in the country, is “are online casinos legal in Japan?” There seems to be a misconception about this question, mainly because there is no specific legislation pertaining to online casinos. 

However, if you read about the gambling laws in Japan, you will learn that all forms of gambling, except those that the state has legalised, are illegal. Since online casinos have not been legalised by the state, even though there is no specific legislation related to online casinos, that would mean that it is not legal. 

Many also assume that since the online casinos aren’t based in the country, it’s a legal loophole. Unfortunately, even if half of the act of gambling is committed within Japan, it is considered illegal. Of course, this doesn’t stop many Japanese online casino lovers since many make use of VPNs to hide their internet activity. 

Are There Any Physical Casinos in Japan?

Since it has been established that online casinos are not legal in Japan, the next question that commonly gets asked is whether or not physical casinos are legal in Japan. The answer to that question is also no. Since physical casinos are not legal in Japan, there aren’t any, but that might be due to change in the future. 

This is because Japan has legalised physical casinos to be operated by chosen private entities and, more than that, at specific locations. This development is caused by the plan to build integrated resorts, which will contain many things, such as shopping malls, cinemas, and casinos. Once these integrated resorts have been built, there is a possibility in the future for more small establishments to acquire licensing, which would make physical casinos legal. 

Can Japanese Gamblers Bet on Horses Online?

So, if there are no physical casinos in Japan and online casinos are illegal, how do Japanese gamblers spend their time? On horse betting, of course! What’s more, betting on horses online is now completely legal. 

This might be surprising to some, but Japan’s horse betting industry is quite big and is estimated to be worth around $25.6 billion. However, it’s worth noting that the Japanese government is attempting to reduce addiction to horse betting by reducing the quality of the horses allowed and the types of races. 

That said, you might be wondering, “can Japanese gamblers bet on horses online?” and the answer to this question is yes, they can. According to the Japan Casino Regulatory Commission, or JCRC, betting on horses online is completely legal, as long as those bets are being made through the Japanese government or municipal bodies. In other words, betting on horses at online casinos in other countries is illegal.  

What Other Gambling Activities are Legal?

It might surprise you further to learn that betting on horses isn’t the only form of gambling legal in Japan; there are quite a few more. In terms of the legal gambling activities, they would be motorboat races, bicycle races, motorcycle races, soccer betting, and the Japanese lottery, excluding pachinko, the most popular. 

If you want to know exactly how popular these forms of gambling are, the pachinko industry is worth about $111.7 billion, the sports betting industry is worth about $51.6 billion, and the turnover from the lottery is worth about $5,7 billion. What’s more, all these activities are available for online betting.