Japan

The History Of Online Gambling in Japan

During the years when gambling was outlawed, it was still widely sought after by many law-abiding citizens. A Japanese version of slot machines called Pachinko was set up and run by private companies that allowed users to play a form of upright pinball to win cards and tokens. These tokens could then be brought to a nearby shop outside of the Pachinko parlour and exchanged for cash.

This loophole was, in effect, a way of turning a blind eye and allowing people to enjoy harmless gambling. In the aftermath of the devastating Fukushima disaster in 2011, there was an upsurge of support to open up legal casinos in order to attract much-needed state funding.

Progress was slow but lawmakers approved a bill that officially allows for casinos to operate in Japan just last year. Although there are restrictions on how often gamblers can visit these casinos, the future of gambling in Japan looks hopeful.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Japan?

There are no licenced online casinos in Japan but that does not mean that Japanese players cannot or don’t play at other casinos online that are hosted outside of Japan.

Currently, online gambling is illegal in Japan, more specifically it is against the law to provide an online gambling service that is based in Japan and hosted on a Japanese server. However, a recent change in legislation, called the Casino Bill, has laid out the framework for regulated land-based casinos to operate in specific sites in Japan as part of resorts.

This recent legislative change has opened up the way for online casinos to operate legally in Japan under regulation. But for now, Japanese players don’t have to worry about gambling online and breaking the law as there are many online casinos based in Europe that accept Japanese players.

You can find the best casinos that allow Japanese players to enjoy their games right here on Gambling Metropolis. We regularly review all of the latest bonus offers and updates so that you can find the very best games and bonuses all in one place.

How we Review the Top Japanese Casinos;

In order to deliver the best possible online gambling experience, we are constantly searching for the latest offers from online casinos.

To ensure that you get the most enjoyment as a player we carefully scrutinise every website that we come across so that only the best and most trustworthy companies come your way.

Below are the considerations that we take when reviewing the best online casinos;

Safety & Security

Cybersecurity is an ever-growing concern and personal data should always be kept safe. We search for online casinos that implement rigid security protocols and don’t play loose with their customers’ sensitive information.

Welcome Bonuses

There’s no better way to enjoy online gambling than with the help of welcome bonuses. We scour the internet for all available bonuses but we specifically flag online casinos that offer the most attractive bonuses for newcomers so that you can get up and running with the best reward in no time at all.

Deposit Methods

Moving money quickly, conveniently and securely is a key factor in your enjoyment of online gambling. You want to upload funds to your favourite sites, transfer winnings when you want and access your account balance 24/7 wherever you are. That is why we list websites with the broadest choice of deposit methods.

Fast Payout

You should only bet money where you are certain to claim your winnings as soon as you earn them. That is why we screen the policies of all online casinos and only recommend those that do not impose waiting periods before you can access your money.

Mobile Capabilities

There’s no better fun than a game that you can enjoy wherever you are whenever you like. To offer the maximum level of enjoyment we prioritise online casinos that cater to mobile gambling.

Customer Support

Setbacks can happen in life and likewise they can happen in online casinos. That is why we look for a sturdy customer support framework from the online operators we list.

Established Game Providers

We believe that it is not worth the worry of using a site you have never heard of. That is why we take care to vet our online casinos and can guarantee they have good reputations and solid track records.

Licence and Regulations

Without the proper full accreditation, an online casino can’t operate legally. We always make sure that our sites are in full cooperation with their respective regulating bodies and are accountable.

Playing With Real Money – Can You Deposit Euro at Japanese Online Casinos?

Yes, you can deposit Euro, US Dollars, Sterling, Japanese Yen and any other type of currency at online casinos. Credit and debit cards, like Visa and Mastercard, that are linked to your bank account can also be used to transfer deposits and earnings.

However, the most popular way to send money to and from your online casino account is through an eWallet. eWallets, also known as digital wallets, are electronic devices or online services that enable a user to make electronic transactions.

There is an ever-growing list of such service providers but the most common ones used for online gambling are Paypal, Neteller and Bitcoin. Paypal remains one of the largest online payment methods worldwide.

In Japan, Neteller operates as Pay Safe Japan KK. Bitcoin, a digital cryptocurrency with no central bank or administrator, can also be used to transact with online casinos.

Which Casino Games are Available in Japan?

Japanese players can enjoy a wide variety of excellent games on online casinos.

Some of the most popular games include blackjack, roulette, slot machines, baccarat and Texas hold’em. Japanese players can expect to enjoy hours of fun playing these games and there will be no issues when it comes to how to play the games. All casinos include detailed guides that explain how to play their various games so new players can pick them up quickly and easily.

Furthermore, there is always great bonus offers on many of these games in the form of free spins on roulette and slot machines and free cash. New players, in particular, should look out for welcome bonuses and no deposit bonuses to help get them started.

Popular Casinos Accepting Japanese Players

Some of the most popular online casinos that accept players from Japan include:

? Betser Casino is a great place for slot machines like Game of Thrones, Jurassic Park and Aliens
? Matchbook Casino offers great slot machine games like Grand Spin and Wild Cats
? Casino Room is a brilliant place where you can find Book of the Dead, Starburst and Golden Ticket

We update our lists of online casinos that accept players from Japan all the time, so be sure to check back regularly to find the best games and bonuses available.

Playing Online Casino Games With a Real Live Dealer

Live dealer games are available at the most popular casino websites. They can be accessed from a computer, mobile, or tablet and allow the player to connect to a real human dealer via a live streaming video feed.

Real cards, chips, and roulette wheels are used by real croupiers while sophisticated software allows players to make wagers from the comfort of their own home. The live chat options bring a social element to the game too, which ultimately makes it the most realistic casino experience outside of a land-based casino.

Some of the most popular live dealer games that you can find from online casinos include live roulette, live blackjack and live poker. Once you sign up with one of our online live dealer casinos you can make your way to the live dealer area. You can brush up on the game rules and familiarise yourself with your screen layout.

Then, once you join a table, you simply follow your dealer’s instructions and enjoy yourself.

Casino Bonuses and Free Spins

Many online casinos offer bonuses to encourage players to sign up and bet with them. Bonuses are often offered as a way to welcome new customers signing up for the first time, as part of a particular package or promotion.

Some websites will also advertise bonuses for downloading their app to your phone or computer or signing new players up to their service. It is important to note that a player must agree to and accept any bonus wagering requirements laid out by an online casino.

Reading the bonus terms and conditions carefully will reveal any time restrictions or other factors that a player should be aware of before gambling. Bonuses can take the form of free spins, on-site currency or bonus cash to match your deposit.

The promotions page of an online casino will always display their current bonuses. Slot bonuses are often tied to a slot game, so look out for newly launched or highly anticipated slots.

What is a Bonus Wagering Requirement?

A wager is simply the amount of money that you bet on a particular game for one turn. This could be a hand of blackjack, a spin of a roulette wheel or a turn on a slot machine. A wager is also commonly known as a bet or a stake. Many online casinos offer bonuses such as free spins or free cash to attract new players to a particular game. These bonuses come with specific wager requirements which effectively act as multipliers.

One game may offer a 30x bonus of free cash. This means that in order to receive the advertised bonus cash you must bet thirty times your initial deposit. Once you accept an online casino’s wagering requirements you can visit their withdrawal page to see how close you are to unlocking your bonus.

It is important to understand that if you accept a wagering requirement you must make the required number of bets before you can withdraw your cash. Higher wagering requirements will yield a greater bonus, however, they will take a greater number of bets before they become available.

Therefore, you should always read the relevant terms and conditions carefully to make sure you understand what you are agreeing to and that you are happy to proceed.

The Casino Market in Japan

With the recent change in legislation providing a framework to roll out three casino resorts across Japan, the country’s gambling market is set to become the third-largest one in the world.

The gambling industry in Japan is only set to grow over the foreseeable future as it has already attracted huge interest from a large number of international gambling operators who have expressed interest in investing.

Ultimately, this will only encourage more online casinos to flourish and offer greater variety and winning opportunities for players. There has never been a better time to get involved in online casinos in Japan. With so few land-based casino options in Japan, many players seek out online casinos that are available to Japan.

Online Casinos and Gambling Rules and Regulations in Japan

As mentioned earlier, there is currently no regulating body for online casinos in Japan. However, that doesn’t mean that Japanese players cannot gamble online.

Many European casinos accept players from Japan and allow them to play games hosted on European servers. As these games are played on European platforms they do not break Japanese law and therefore players from Japan can enjoy great online casinos with no risk of breaking rules and regulations.

As long as you adhere to the terms and conditions of the online casino you wish to use then you are free to play their games and have fun. Any player who tries to exploit a casino by infringing upon their terms of service can expect to be banned, have their account blocked and their winnings withheld.

So, no matter where you are playing from, be sure to play by the rules.