Japan MPs shut door on sports betting legalisation amid match-fixing fears

Japanese lawmakers from across the political spectrum have formally rejected any move to legalise sports betting, warning that a regulated market could undermine sporting integrity and increase the risk of criminal influence over athletes and competitions.

A cross-party parliamentary league dedicated to sports promotion has unanimously confirmed that it will oppose proposals to legalise sports betting in Japan. The group, chaired by former prime minister Taro Aso, met at the Diet Building this week and agreed that instead of opening the market, the priority must be to strengthen protections for athletes, officials and competitions.

According to coverage relayed via Asia News Network, the lawmakers decided to block any attempt to advance legalisation bills and to intensify work on match-fixing and fraud countermeasures. A special task team led by former justice minister Takashi Yamashita has been created to design new legislative tools and enforcement mechanisms against manipulation and betting-related crime.

Under Japan’s Penal Code, gambling is only permitted on a narrow set of public races – horse, bicycle, motorboat and motorcycle – all operated by state or local authorities. Betting via overseas websites remains a criminal offence, yet offshore platforms still actively target Japanese customers. The Council for Sports Ecosystem Promotion estimates that residents wagered at least ¥6.5 trillion (around €35bn) on unlicensed foreign sports betting sites in 2024, illustrating how large the illegal market has become.

Sports bodies and MPs argue that this surge in offshore betting is already heightening the risks of match-fixing, bribery and organised crime involvement. Memories of the 1969 professional baseball betting scandal, which led to lifetime bans for several players, still shape Japan’s cautious stance towards sports wagering. Rather than liberalise, the government is rolling out broader policies against illegal online gambling and addiction, including tougher rules on online casino advertising and potential technical blocking of unlawful sites.

For international operators, the message from Tokyo is clear: there is no realistic path to legal sports or esports betting in Japan in the short to medium term. Policy makers are instead leaning on enforcement, education and international cooperation to tackle cross-border betting risks, while keeping the door firmly closed on domestic legalisation debates.