There are no casinos in Japan
Casino gambling has been illegal throughout Japan's modern history and no casino operates in the country today. Japan legalised integrated resorts in 2018 under tight conditions, and only one site has been approved.
MGM Osaka is being built on Yumeshima, a reclaimed island in Osaka Bay, owned roughly 40% each by MGM Resorts International and Orix. Construction began in April 2025 and the target opening is 2030.
Japanese residents will face entry fees and visit limits written into the legislation, a model borrowed from Singapore. Foreign visitors will not.
Our Tokyo guide covers why the capital withdrew from the first licensing round and what exists instead.
What is legal
Pachinko is enormous and occupies a legal grey area: prizes are exchanged for tokens at the parlour and the tokens for cash at a nominally separate business nearby, which keeps it outside the gambling prohibition.
Betting on horse racing, keirin cycling, powerboat racing and motorcycle speedway is fully legal under public monopolies, popular and entirely mainstream.
Cities covered
Before you play anywhere
Two numbers travel better than any local rule. Our house edge entry explains why games that look alike are priced very differently, and true odds is the comparison that prices any bet in seconds.
Set a budget before you sit down. Our responsible gaming page covers deposit limits and self-exclusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the legal gambling age in Japan?
- Not applicable. There are no casinos.
- Are gambling winnings taxed in Japan?
- Not applicable to casino gambling.
- Who regulates gambling in Japan?
- Casino Regulatory Commission, for resorts not yet open.
- When was this checked?
- Against legal and regulatory sources in August 2026. Gambling law changes, so confirm before relying on it for anything significant.
Ages, tax treatment and regulators on this page were checked against legal and regulatory sources in August 2026. Gambling law changes and treatment differs between products and between recreational and professional players, so this is general information and not tax or legal advice. On a large result, take proper advice rather than a web page.