Japan Passes Revised Basic Act on Gambling Addiction Measures to Ban Online Casino Ads, Enforce Removal From September 25

Japan's revised Basic Act on Gambling Addiction Measures, aimed at strengthening regulations on online casinos, was passed by the upper house and has become law. The legislation prohibits advertising that leads to online casino websites and targets illegal gambling activities, which have included involvement by celebrities. The law includes measures to restrict access to online casino sites, such as potential site blocking. Starting September 25, 2025, the National Police Agency will enforce the law by designating online casino advertisements and related posts as "illegal information" and will request their removal from site operators. The agency also plans to coordinate with overseas operators to take down sites targeting Japanese users. The law reflects a combined effort by public and private sectors to curb illegal online gambling and mitigate gambling addiction risks in Japan.