Japan's Cabinet Office announced on July 10, 2025 the promulgation of a law partially amending the Basic Act on Measures Against Gambling Addiction1. The notice appeared in the news list of the Gambling Addiction Countermeasures Promotion Headquarters, the Cabinet body that coordinates national policy on gambling harm1.
The Basic Act is 平成30年法律第74号, Law No. 74 of Heisei 301. Under Article 24 of that law, the headquarters was set up at the Cabinet on 平成30年10月5日, chaired by the Chief Cabinet Secretary with relevant ministers as members, to promote gambling addiction measures comprehensively and systematically1.
The headquarters' news list carries the promulgation notice dated 2025年7月10日1. A separate notice dated 2025年8月4日 states that advertising and promotion of online casinos is illegal1. The page also links to a police agency page stating that gambling through online casinos is a crime2.
The headquarters has published three basic plans on gambling addiction measures, decided by the Cabinet on the following dates1:
The most recent plan was decided on 2025年3月21日1. Progress reports cover fiscal years through 令和6年度, published 2025年10月20日, and through 令和7年度, published 2026年7月27日1.
"ギャンブル等依存症対策基本法の一部を改正する法律の公布について"
The text of the amendment itself, including which provisions changed and when they take effect, has not been reported on the headquarters page. The page lists the promulgation notice but does not summarize the amended provisions1.
What it means for players
The Basic Act sets the framework for prevention, treatment and support related to gambling addiction in Japan. It does not by itself create new offenses or change which games are legal. The amendment's practical effect on players depends on provisions that are not described in the published notice1.
Separately, the headquarters states that advertising and promotion of online casinos is illegal, and links to a police warning that gambling through online casinos is a crime1. That notice is dated 2025年8月4日, after the amendment was promulgated.
For context on what is legal in Japan, see Can I Gamble in Japan? and Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions.
What happens next
The headquarters has not published the amendment's effective date or any accompanying enforcement measures on the page reviewed1. Progress reporting under the basic plan continues: the headquarters published a report covering fiscal years through 令和7年度 on 2026年7月27日1. For wider regional changes, see Recent and Pending Gambling Law Changes in Asia.
Sources2 sources
- ギャンブル等依存症対策推進本部, cas.go.jp
- ギャンブル等依存症対策推進本部, cas.go.jp
