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In this article, we will take a closer look at the complex world of sports betting in Japan and answer all the questions you might have about it, including:
- Which are the best betting sites in Japan?
- What does online betting in Japan look like?
- How can you enjoy online betting in Japan?
Full List of the Best Japan Betting Sites
As per Japanese law, any form of sports betting is illegal. But even though that's not necessarily true, as some forms of gambling locals can enjoy – including Japanese baseball betting – online betting in Japan is prohibited.
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Many sportsIn-play modeLive streaming
4.4
100% up to $500
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Many bonuses24/7 supportMobile apps
4.1
Live bettingMany sportsFast payouts
4.6
Great supportMobile appsLive betting
4.2
Rakeboost bonus
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Easy to useGreat markets24/7 support
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Up to 180% bonus on 1st deposit
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Welcome offersLive streamingMany bonuses
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24/7 supportWelcome offersMobile apps50% up to $1000
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Welcome offersEsports marketLive streaming-
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24/7 supportLoyalty programMany bonuses
4.1
100% up to $1000
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Various bet types24/7 supportGreat marketsMoreover, no licensed bookmakers offer sports or Esports betting in Japan, making online betting nearly impossible. However, on a more positive note, since the supervision from the authorities is relatively weak, it is technically possible to bet on some online betting sites, with most bettors preferring to use the Japan bet app for their wagering needs.
So while there are some online bookmakers where you can bet, there are no new online betting sites in Japan, nor is online betting legal.
Best Betting Bonuses & Offers for Japanese Bettors
Since online betting in Japan is illegal, we can't talk about top betting sites in Japan, as there are none. Likewise, it's impossible to find the best betting sites in Japan with great bonuses, as such a thing does not exist as of 2024.
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New customers only! Please bet responsibly, begambleaware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.
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4.6
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Rakeboost bonus
Rakeback is a withdrawable bonus that is accrued for each bet and depends on your current Rank. Please bet responsibly, begambleaware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.
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Up to 180% bonus on 1st deposit
New customers only! Get up to 180% bonus on your First Deposit! Full T&Cs apply
Even though you can use international bookmakers that will accept Japanese bettors, it is doubtful that they'll offer you bonuses or promotions, assuming you're betting from Japan. Some might, but you shouldn't expect to see any more offers besides a welcome deposit bonus, occasional free bet, or special promotions during important sporting events. “
Japanese Sports Betting Market Overview
| ⚖️ Is betting legal: | Yes |
| 📜 Legal Acts: | The Criminal Code |
| 🏢 Regulatory Body: | No |
| 🧾 Taxation: | N/A |
| ⚽ Favorite Sports to Bet on: | Baseball, Football, Tennis and Golf |
| 🏅 Widespread Tournaments\Competitions to Bet on: | All Japan High School Soccer Tournament, Japanese Super Cup, Japan Series |
| 🎰 Other Popular Gambling Markets: | Lottery |
| ⭐ Most Popular Sportsbooks: | Ivibet, 22Bet, FreshBet |
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Bet of the Day for Japan
While gambling in Japan is prohibited, there are some forms of betting the locals can enjoy, granted on only a select number of sports. Moreover, the betting options are minimal, offering an entirely different betting experience from what you find on any other betting website.
WHAT IS THE BEST BET FOR TODAY?
Still, Japanese bettors can wager on baseball, football, horse racing, powerboat racing, cycling, and motorsports. Unfortunately, anything besides that is not legally available or reachable, as you won't be able to find a betting site in Japan that would offer an expanded market offer.
Bet on Sports
Sports betting in Japan is minimal, not only in the number of sports you can bet on but also in the bets you can place. So while you can still bet in Japan, it's an entirely different world to the betting you would experience when you sign up for an account with 10Bet in Germany, France, the United States, or other parts of the world.
Football
As of 1998, betting on football in Japan is allowed, but with limitations. You can bet on football, but if you're after online betting sites that accept Visa or other online wagering sites, that won't work.
Technically, the only form of football betting in Japan is in the J-League, with systems of 5 or 13 games. Instead, you can bet at land-based bookmakers. Moreover, the only form of betting is to-to or mini-to-to, a system where you have to predict 13 or 5 games.
Basketball
No matter how far you look for the best Japanese betting sites in hopes of betting on basketball, it's not legally possible. Some Japanese bettors still place wagers on basketball via international bookmakers, apps, or websites that operate as betting sites in Japan, but it is not legal.
Baseball
Baseball is one of the sports you can bet on in Japan, but again, you can't do it from an online sportsbook like Bet365. Moreover, the only form of baseball betting in Japan comes in the form of pari-mutuel betting.
Horse Racing
Like baseball, horse racing falls under “public sports”; hence is one of the few sports you can bet on in Japan, granted only with pari-mutuel betting.
Cycling
Cycling joins the list of public sports in Japan; hence you can wager on it in Japan. But like it's the rule with all other public sports, pari-mutuel betting is the only form of gambling that is allowed.
Esports
Even though Japan has a solid Esports scene, you can't legally bet on Esports from Japanese bookies. The government may look to change the law allowing betting on Esports, but as of 2024, such movements have yet to be made.
Bet on Competitions
Just like betting on sports in Japan is very limited, so is betting on competitions. There are some exceptions, namely the Japanese horse racing events, J-League football, and some other local sports tournaments and competitions, which are considered “local sports”.
Yet even betting on local competitions doesn't come without restrictions – usually in pari-mutuel betting or to-to betting.
How to Choose the Best Bookmakers in Japan
Since online betting in Japan is illegal, there's no point in looking for the best online betting sites in Japan, as there are none. However, if Japan decides to legalize online betting, it's wise to know how to recognise solid bookmakers.
All good betting sites in Japan should, first and foremost, be legal, safe, and legalized, as only this way can you ensure the safety of your money and personal information. But know that there are no legalized online betting sites in Japan.
A good betting site should also have competitive odds, enough markets, and solid bonus offers, including register/login welcome bonuses, free bets, and occasional odds boosts.
You should also check which payment methods a bookmaker has since you should naturally want to use a betting site with the payment option you prefer. So, searching for sportsbooks that accept MasterCard is a wise choice if you bet with credit cards.
Lastly, all good betting sites in Japan should offer Japanese betting apps. Even if you don't intend to bet from your phone, having the option to download an app is beneficial.
Which Japanese Bookmaker Has the Best Odds?
Since online sports betting in Japan is illegal, there are no online betting sites in Japan; therefore, we can't tell you which has the best odds. Notably, some international bookmakers offer services to Japanese bettors, but those don't operate legally.
Payment Methods at Japanese Sportsbooks
Online betting in Japan is illegal, so you shouldn't use direct bank transfers to fund your online betting account. Local banks know that many bettors go around the law and wager on international bookmakers, so they've implemented restrictions that make it impossible to transfer money from bank accounts into betting accounts.
So the only available payment methods are E-wallets such as ecoPayz, WebMoney, Jeton, and Sticpay, which operate in Japan and allow you to transfer money anonymously. Alternatively, mobile payment options such as LINE Pay or MuchBetter will enable you to stay under the radar with your money transfers.
And lastly, some bettors like to use cryptocurrency as it's completely anonymous, which resolves all the issues you would encounter using other payment methods in Japan.
Mobile Betting Sites & Betting Apps in Japan
Online betting is illegal in Japan, but since the government does a poor job enforcing the rules, local bettors can still technically bet online, and most prefer to bet via a mobile betting app.
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It's also important to note that mobile betting is on the rise worldwide, and Japan is no exception, so it's not surprising that most betting in Japan is done via mobile apps. Interestingly, Japan boasts the highest % of mobile internet usage, which only supports our claims.
So while online betting is illegal, you can still bet online with a mobile betting app, which is generally available to all known international bookmakers.
Japanese Live Betting & Streaming
If you're looking to live bet in Japan legally, you're out of luck. While you might be able to live bet using international bookmakers, know that it is prohibited by law. Online betting is not permitted; sports betting is minimal and doesn't include live betting.
The Legal Situation of Sports Betting in Japan
Sports are a big deal in Japan, and many locals are huge sports fans, especially football, tennis, golf, horse racing, and baseball fans. However, as for gambling in Japan is concerned, it's quite a complex situation.
According to the country's law, gambling is illegal, yet some forms of gambling are still taking place. That includes sports betting, casinos, and the hugely popular pachinko, with the former taking place mainly on international sportsbooks, as there are no Japanese bookies.
History of Sports Betting in Japan
The Penal Code of Japan (Chapter 23) states that all gambling in Japan is illegal, but the law dates back to 1907 and is outdated. But since there is no modern gambling framework, some forms of sports betting in Japan are legal.
Even though there are no free betting sites in Japan, locals can still bet on “public sports,” including horse racing, bicycle racing, powerboat racing, and motorcycle racing. Notably, though, all forms of betting are pari-mutuel.
In 1998, Japan allowed betting on Japanese J-League football, but again, it wasn't the standard form of betting we know from other countries. So instead, people from Japan can enjoy Japanese sports betting with a to-to system, where you have to predict the outcome of 13 or 5 games.
Other forms of betting, namely online betting in Japan, are illegal, and there are no licensed online bookmakers in Japan. As a result, and with no movement in legalizing Japanese bookies, betting in Japan will remain limited.
Responsible Gambling Organisations in Japan
Below there are some international companies and organizations that can help you to struggle against gambling problems in Japan.
- GamStop
- GambleAware
- GamCare
- Gambling Therapy
- Net Nanny
- CYBERsitter
- Betfilter
- GamBlock
- Qustodio
- Gamban
- Gamblers Anonymous
Japan Overview
Japan has an extraordinary sports betting scene, which completely disallows any form of online betting and offers only a limited variation of sports betting on a few sports. This article has covered most of what you need to know about the online betting scene in Japan, but before we say our goodbyes, here are some interesting facts about the country.
- Tokyo is Japan's capital and largest city, followed by Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, and Kobbe.
- The official language of Japan is Japanese, but there are many dialects. Other languages spoken in Japan include Bengali, Burmese, and Chinese.
- Japanese Yen is the official currency of Japan, but of late, many people have started using cryptocurrency, which has become very popular over the last couple of years.
- Bettors from Japan prefer to use anonymous payment methods such as MuchBetter, ecoPayz, WebMoney, Jeton, and Sticpay.
- Japan has no legal and licensed betting sites.
- Some of the most popular sports in Japan include football, horse racing, cycling, and motorsports.
- Japan is home to many prominent sports competitions, including J-League, V-League, X-League, and Japan Rugby League One.
- Some of the most popular Japanese sports teams are Shin Nihon Steel, Kashima Antlers, and Yomiuri Giants.
- Japan is home to many great sports athletes, including Yuzuru Hanyu, Naomi Osaka, Kei Nishikori, Hideki Matsuyama, and Shohei Ohtani.
Bottom Line
The Japanese online betting world is fascinating, but unfortunately, the government has yet to make any movements toward finally legalizing online betting. Instead, it has implemented stricter punishments for those breaking the law, so while it is still possible to find an online betting site where you can bet from Japan, it might be wiser to wait for Japan to accept online betting. We recommend many other options to bet with BetZillion`s platform.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the best betting site in Japan right now?Online betting in Japan is prohibited; hence there is no best online betting site in Japan. Instead, you can use international bookmakers such as 22Bet, N1Bet, 1xBet, and 20Bet.
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Is online sports betting legal in Japan?No. Online sports betting in Japan is illegal and not allowed. You can still bet on sports online via international bookmakers, but Japanese sportsbooks offer only sports betting options.
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Can you use the Betfair sportsbook in Japan?You can't use Betfair in Japan. The company does not accept bets from Japanese people. Currently, it has no intention of offering its betting exchange to Japanese people, nor does Betfair intend to include Japanese horse racing on its platform.
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Is there such a thing as a Bitcoin bookmaker in Japan?Even though there are no online betting sites in Japan, some people still use online bookies to bet, and most punters prefer crypto bookmakers. Still, there are no local Japanese crypto bookmakers. That is because all crypto deposits are anonymous and allow people to bet without getting spotted.
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What can you bet on in Japan?While online betting in Japan is prohibited, you can still bet on a handful of sports, including J-League football, horse racing, baseball, cycling, and motorsports. However, betting options are very limited to pari-mutuel betting and to-to betting.
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How can I deposit at Japanese betting sites?There are no Japanese betting sites. But if you decide to use any international bookmakers to bet from Japan, you should use e-wallets for your deposits. That is because bank transfers to a betting account aren't possible due to strict restrictions.
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How do I know your recommended sites are the top sport betting sites for players from Japan?At BetZillion, we work with a team of betting experts who live and breathe online betting and have enough knowledge to recognise solid betting sites. We tested and reviewed all bookmakers on our list and can guarantee they’re legit, safe, and offer a dependable betting service.
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Can you use PayPal in Japan for online sports betting?PayPal is not the best option for online betting since not many bookmakers accept it. Japan has no online betting sites, so PayPal isn't an optimal choice either, but you can find an international bookmaker that accepts PayPal.
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Why is online betting so popular in Japan?Gambling, in general, is prevalent in Japan, which explains why so many people wish for online betting to be legalized. But as it stands now, online betting has yet to be accepted by the law and continues to be illegal.
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