While the market size of sports gambling is said to be $1 trillion, 90% of it is said to be illegal gambling, especially in Japan. One of the real thrills of sports is “prediction” such as winning and losing on your betting slip, but sports betting enhances the responsiveness of the “prediction” and can be a trigger to acquiring new sports fans.
And while watching and doing sports is incredibly popular in Japan, sports betting is not that easy to do. There are ways though. Read on to find out more about the best sports betting sites in Japan for 2024, how to find them, what to pay attention to, and much more.
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Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Japan?
Betting on sports is an illegal activity in Japan, whether online or not. However, many Japanese do bet on sports via foreign betting sites.
In Japan, gambling is a business activity under special laws such as the Horse Racing Law, the Bicycle Racing Law, the Motor Boat Racing Law, and the Law Concerning the Implementation of Sports Promotion Voting (Football Lottery Law). Except for those that are permitted to operate as per the Criminal Code Article 35, it is illegal for gambling crimes (Criminal Code Article 185). Therefore, sports betting is illegal.
On the other hand, sports betting has high profitability and is expected to increase tax revenue. It is also said that the rational distribution of profits will be a powerful source of revenue for the sports industry such as sports organizations and teams. CyberAgent Co., Ltd. estimates that if sports betting is lifted in Japan, the market size will be up to 7 trillion yen annually, which is more than double the 2019 actual sales of the Japan Racing Association.
Article 185 of the Criminal Code stipulates that “gambling persons” will be punished. Here, “gambling” is an act in which two or more persons compete for profit or loss of property or property profit by accidental victory or defeat. Even if skill and ability affect victory or defeat, if victory or defeat is affected by even little accidental circumstances, it is considered an “accidental victory or defeat” and there is a risk that multiple people participating in gambling will lose their property, etc.
In addition, Article 186, Paragraph 2 of the Penal Code stipulates that the act of “opening a gambling hall” is a gambling opening chart guilty, and punishes those who provide a certain place for gambling as the presiding officer.
In recent years, online sports betting has become widespread, in which betting companies that have obtained business licenses for gambling overseas have opened betting sites on the Internet to enable gambling for customers around the world, including Japan. As a premise, online sports betting is also “gambling”, so if you connect to a betting site from Japan and bet money, it is assumed that part of the betting act was done in Japan, and the customer = user will bet. It is believed that the crime will be established.
The question is whether or not the gambling open-up gambling offense will be established for the business operator who opened the betting site, assuming that the gambling hall has been provided. If you evaluate the installation of a betting site server as “providing a gambling place”, if the betting company installs the server in Japan, you will be guilty of gambling openness, but you used an overseas server. In some cases, it does not seem to have provided a domestic gambling venue.
When looking for the first sports betting site in Japan, there are a few things to keep in mind. Most notably, new players should look for:
When choosing a sports betting site in Japan, make sure the operating company is clearly stated. Many bookmakers are operated by foreign companies, so if they are not reliable or safe, you may get into trouble. Therefore, when using a bookmaker to gamble safely, always look for a license.
In particular, a legal license means a business permit issued by the government when operating a bookmaker, casino, etc. The criteria for obtaining a permit vary from country to country and are only the services of companies that have passed rigorous screening. Therefore, when placing sports bets and bets through gambling sites, check not only the company information but also the existence of legal licenses.
When choosing a bookmaker, it is important to have support in Japanese. Most bookmakers are run by companies from the United States and Europe, so if you have any problems with how to use them, you need to contact us in English. However, some bookmakers also offer services in Japanese. Therefore, if you have difficulty communicating in English, choose a bookmaker that has a support system in Japanese.
It is important to choose a bookmaker in Japan that allows you to deposit and withdraw money smoothly. Depending on the bookmaker, there may be restrictions on the deposit method. For example, there are various means such as “only bank transfer is possible” and “electronic payment, virtual currency, credit card, etc. can be used”.
Also, some bookmakers may take some time to withdraw the money they make. Bookmakers with fast withdrawals will be reflected within a minimum of 24 hours, but bookmakers with slow withdrawals will take a few days. Therefore, you can enjoy sports betting comfortably by using a bookmaker that has abundant deposit methods and is quick to withdraw the winning funds.
The variety of sports you can bet on is an important criterion when choosing a sports betting site in Japan. Bookmakers allow you to enjoy gambling in a variety of sports. For example, it is possible to bet on the outcome of not only overseas sports such as football, F1 and American football, but also sports such as professional baseball, boxing and basketball in Japan.
In addition, bookmakers have services that support not only sports but also online casinos and mahjong. When choosing a bookmaker, use a bookmaker with a wide variety of sports and casino games to bet on.
Many bookmakers in Japan offer a variety of benefits for first-time users. For example, you can start without spending money on the first use, such as “First-time limited ○ yen-free service” and “Free registration bonus”.
In addition, bookmakers may hold limited-time campaigns to increase odds, and there are times when you can make money efficiently. If you want to start gambling at a good price or take advantage of campaigns to keep costs down, check for the best bonuses and promotions.
When choosing a bookmaker, it is important that you have high odds and a high limit on the amount you can bet. By setting the odds high, the amount of money you will get when the prediction is correct will be high. In addition, the high maximum amount that can be bet at one time makes it possible to aim for a lot of money.
Choose a sports betting site in Japan with high odds and betting limits, as the amount of money you will get if you win will change significantly.
Here are the main 4 steps to take in order to play with a bookmaker from Japan.
First, select the bookmaker you are going to use and register for an account. Each bookmaker has various features and functions, but when it comes to famous bookmakers that are recommended for beginners and have many Japanese users, any will do just fine.
If you want to start a bookmaker but don’t know which one to choose, there is a quick guide provided above, as well as the list of the best sports betting sites in Japan for 2024.
Bookmakers have to verify players’ identity by submitting documents with their address and name, so if you register with false information, you will not be able to withdraw funds, so please be sure to register with your real name and real address when registering.
You can start playing in 15 minutes from account registration without any advance preparation, you can deposit immediately by bank transfer, and you can also deposit by virtual currency from the virtual currency exchange.
After registering for an account, the next task is to deposit money into the account. The deposit methods that can be used vary depending on each sports betting site in Japan. There are many bookmakers that accept card deposits, but unfortunately many bookmakers cannot actually use cards issued in Japan because they are restricted from being used on overseas gambling sites. Therefore, when using a bookmaker, it is common to deposit via an online payment account such as ecoPayz or MuchBetter.
In most cases, 3,000 yen is the minimum deposit amount, so most people who actually start their betting career at a Japanese bookmaker have deposited at least 20,000 to 100,000. If you are an advanced user, you can deposit hundreds of thousands to millions of yen at a time, but about 50,000 yen is the average place.
Above all, if you deposit and withdraw many times, the fee will be wasteful, so you can save the fee as a result by putting in a large amount of funds of about tens of thousands of yen first.
Once you’ve made a deposit in the bookmaker, bet on your favorite sport and enjoy sports betting to your heart’s content. Bettors in Japan are betting on various sports competitions around the world such as football, tennis, baseball, and rugby, and you can enjoy betting on your favorite sports around the world, such as the 12 Japanese professional baseball teams. For example, in the case of football, you can bet on European football such as the Premier League and Champions League, J League (J1 to J3), ACL, and Nadeshiko League!
If you win your bet and win, the next step is to withdraw your profits. The specific withdrawal method is the same as the deposit method, and the available methods are different for each bookmaker. A few hours or days after you apply for withdrawal, your withdrawal will be reflected in your bank account or your payment service.
There are many sports lovers in Japan. Some people bet on the cheer, while others make a profit by predicting the winner. Here are the most popular sports to bet on in Japan:
There are many different types of bets available to Japanese bettors, and instead of naming them all, the most popular types of bets will be presented below.
A wager on whether the total number of points or goals scored by both teams will be over or under a specified number set by the bookmaker.
A bet that gives one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage, leveling the playing field and altering the odds.
A wager that allows you to cover two out of three possible outcomes in a sports event, reducing your risk but offering lower odds.
A bet placed on a single outcome in a sports event. It is the simplest and most straightforward type of bet.
A bet placed on the overall outcome of a competition or season, rather than a single event. For example, betting on a team to win the Premier League.
Bonuses and promotions written on the sports betting site in Japan are, so to speak, benefits to the player. If you create an account and meet the conditions, the stated amount will be added to the “bonus/free bet balance” of the account.
This bonus balance is managed separately from the funds you actually deposit. Of course, you can use it for betting, so if you win, you will get a prize, and if you lose, your bonus balance will decrease. However, since the bonus is only a fictitious fund, you cannot withdraw it immediately after receiving it.
However, if you clear the conditions set by the bookmaker (such as betting a certain amount or more), the bonus you receive will change to real money. If you change to real money, you will be able to withdraw just like real money. For example, if you first get a $100 bonus and use it to practice your betting, and you still have $80 in your bonus when you meet the criteria, that $80 is a complete gift from the bookmaker.
From the bookmaker’s point of view, bonuses and free bets are just promotions that are prepared to get new players to register, but regardless of that intent, they can eventually be monetized. Bookmakers in Japan offer three main types of benefits for new players starting from:
A bonus provided to new bettors when they first register with a betting site. Typically includes free bets or a matched bet based on their first deposit.
A bonus that offers a certain number of free bets based on various criteria like deposit amount, betting patterns, or promotional offers.
A bonus awarded to new bettors without any initial deposit requirement. This can be in the form of a free bet or bonus credit for betting.
A bonus that returns a percentage of a bettor's losses over a specified timeframe. This helps mitigate some of the risks associated with losing bets.
What Is the Best Payment Option for Japanese Players?
As online sports betting in Japan is still illegal, payment methods linked to personal bank accounts should be avoided. Therefore, e-wallets and cryptocurrencies are the best options as they are safe, reliable, and anonymous.
In Japan, there are usually many ways to add or withdraw funds to your betting account. Each payment method has its own strengths and weaknesses, and some people have clear preferences that need to be considered. Due to the nature of gambling law in Japan, there is no local payment method. This section describes the most common payment methods.
In Japan, only special forms of gambling are legal under special laws, such as the Horse Racing Law, the Bicycle Racing Law, the Motor Boat Racing Law, and the Law Concerning the Implementation of Sports Promotion Voting (Football Lottery Law). All other forms of gambling are illegal.
There are no Japanese-based online casinos and bookmakers therefore gamblers need to look for foreign gaming houses. Finding licensed houses will always be safe.
There are no Japanese-based online casinos and bookmakers therefore gamblers need to look for foreign gaming houses. Finding licensed houses will always be safe.
The state does not set any limits as the law prohibits gambling, therefore, the only deposit limits that Japanese gamblers will find will be individual bookmaker limits.
In general, there is a tax for gambling winnings in Japan that Japanese nationals have to pay when gambling on legal activities. The tax is paid for winnings over 500,000 yen. For online sports betting, no tax should be paid.
Bookmakers are always quick to transfer the winnings onto your betting account. From here, a bettor will choose a withdrawal method to collect the winnings. The most recommended option is e-wallets, which usually take 24 hours to process withdrawals.
Japanese bettors can access many sports betting sites in the country and each bookmaker will offer different bonuses, odds, and services in general. Finding a bookmaker with such offers that best suit your needs would be the goal.
Bookmakers in Japan offer various sports to bet on, including football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, rugby, cricket, baseball, table tennis, eSports, handball, and many more.
Football is the most popular sport to bet on in Japan, like in most countries around the world. However, baseball and American football are incredibly popular as well.
Bookmakers in Japan can offer three types of odds – decimal, fractional, and American odds. Depending on the type, the chances of an outcome happening will be shown. Many bookmakers will offer conversion of types of odds. Each possibility is represented in odds, and by multiplying the odds by the stake, the bettor will get the final winnings.
Some sports betting sites in Japan will offer free bets. These can be claimed either when registering or when betting for a longer time. Free bets provide betting without investment but under certain conditions.
Players in Japan must register first with the bookmaker before claiming any bonuses. The sign-up bonus is immediately awarded to the new user, either after the first deposit or by using a promo code.
Although many forms of gambling are still illegal, the country has provided gambling addiction help under public health insurance.
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