(AsiaGameHub) – Online casino usage is growing rapidly in Japan, despite recent high-profile crackdowns and increasingly severe penalties for both gamblers and operators.
These findings come from a major new study commissioned by the Japanese anti-gambling NGO, the Society Concerned About Gambling Addiction (SCGA).
The SCGA provides counseling services to individuals struggling with gambling addiction. For its research, the organization surveyed over 460 people across Japan.
The study revealed that the average debt accumulated by online casino users has surged by 140% over the past four years, reaching 10.84 million yen ($69,000).
“This amount exceeds double the average annual income of a salaried worker—approximately 4.6 million yen [$29,000],” the researchers wrote. “The level of gambling-related debt now threatens not only individual lives but also the economic stability of entire households.”
It remains illegal to operate or participate in online casinos within Japan. Additionally, accessing overseas-based online casinos from Japanese territory is considered a criminal offense.
The study also found that many addicted online gamblers are resorting to crime to fund their habits. Data shows that online casino users are statistically 10% more likely to be arrested than non-users.
Most Online Casino Users in Japan Are Young Men
According to the authors, the vast majority of online casino users in Japan are men aged 20 to 39. Those in their 20s make up 37% of users, while those in their 30s account for 35%, with 96% of all users being male.
However, the data indicates a sharp rise in youth gambling. The number of teenage users has increased sixfold since 2022, and 6.5% of university students surveyed admitted to being addicted to online casinos.
The average age at which underage users place their first bet is 17, according to the data.
The research also shows that desperate online gamblers often turn to their parents for financial help. Over 90% of gambling addicts reported borrowing money from their mothers and fathers to repay debts, with an average loan amount of $57,000.
“Gambling addiction is becoming more widespread because there is a lack of awareness that anyone who gambles can develop an addiction,” the authors noted.
They emphasized that gambling addiction “is a disease that cannot be cured without proper treatment.”
The authors added that educational lectures and financial management programs have proven ineffective, and suicide rates linked to youth gambling are on the rise.
The SCGA criticized Tokyo’s plans to approve the development of three integrated casino-resorts.
The first of these resorts, MGM Osaka, is scheduled to open in 2030.
“With the opening of the Osaka casino approaching, there is a critical shortage of measures to combat gambling addiction,” the NGO concluded.
‘Just the Tip of the Iceberg’
According to recently released figures from the National Police Agency, authorities investigated 158 online casino-related gambling cases in 2025—a threefold increase compared to 2024.
Police officials describe this figure as “likely just the tip of the iceberg.”
The agency estimates that approximately 3.37 million Japanese residents have “experience with online casinos.”
Officials estimate total annual betting on illegal platforms at around 1.2 trillion yen ($7.7 billion).
Japanese newspaper Kochi Shimbun reported that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has responded by establishing an expert working group tasked with drafting “more effective deterrent measures.”
Sources familiar with the working group say experts have discussed various geo-blocking strategies aimed at restricting access by Japanese users to popular overseas casino websites.
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