Political opposition to sports betting is growing steadily in Japan.
A cross-party parliamentary committee, made up of representatives from multiple political groups, has decided to establish a working group to assess legislative measures against illegal sports betting, with the aim of achieving a truly comprehensive ban.
The initiative seeks to more effectively combat violations of the criminal code and to protect athletes and referees from betting-related match-fixing attempts.
The task force will be led by Takashi Yamashita, former Minister of Justice and a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
A Clear Cultural and Political Position
At the same time, Parliament is also working on separate legislation that takes into account international standards for sports integrity, such as those outlined in the Council of Europe’s Macolin Convention.
The initiative was explained by former Prime Minister Taro Aso, now president of the Parliamentary Association for Sport. At the end of the meeting, Aso emphasized Japan’s intention to deliberately distinguish itself from other G7 countries.
While sports betting is legal and regulated in all other major industrialized economies, Japan’s lawmakers unanimously reiterated that this type of activity is “not compatible with Japanese culture.”
Legal Framework and Existing Prohibitions
From a legal standpoint, sports betting is already prohibited under Article 185 of the Japanese Penal Code.
Only a limited number of state-sanctioned gambling activities are permitted, such as horse racing, boat racing, bicycle racing, and lotteries.
However, betting on football and other sports offered by foreign online platforms remains illegal, even though these services are easily accessible from within Japan. The lack of a centralized supervisory authority and the fact that many operators are based overseas make enforcement particularly challenging—especially when compared with more mature regulatory environments seen in jurisdictions hosting the top online casinos 2026.
Integrity Concerns and Enforcement Challenges
In recent years, multiple cases involving athletes engaged in illegal betting—particularly in professional baseball and sumo—have led to disciplinary proceedings and sparked wider debates about the need for stronger protections of sporting integrity.
This parliamentary initiative fits squarely within that context, aiming to address gaps in the current system and strengthen the fight against a phenomenon viewed not only as a legal threat, but also as a cultural and social concern.
