The Tokyo-based responsible gambling organization, the Society Concerned About Gambling Addiction, has revealed that one in three Japanese players who play at offshore operators are going into debt within one week.
According to the extensive survey conducted by the Society Concerned About Gambling Addiction, 3.7 million Japanese players have used unlicensed services that are available to citizens from the country.
Moreover, the report shows that 23.7% of Japanese players playing at online offshore gambling websites see advertisements on social media, with the organization revealing that one in three players is likely to borrow money to gamble within a week after they start playing.
The survey also found that 52.7% of all respondents revealed that they were unaware that offshore gambling on online websites is illegal in the country. Despite online gambling being banned in Japan, there is currently no law that prohibits gambling on offshore online gambling platforms.
The Society Concerned About Gambling Addiction also revealed that 60% of Japanese players were aware that gambling can lead to gambling addiction.
Noriko Tanaka, a representative of the Society Concerned About Gambling Addiction, said during an interview with The Japan Times that citizens of Japan need to be protected from offshore online gambling operators targeting the population via advertisements of offshore casinos.
Similarly, the National Police Agency verified that almost 3.7 million players are gambling at offshore gambling websites and additionally revealed that nearly 40% of those playing at offshore casinos were not aware that gambling at offshore online gambling platforms is prohibited.
One reason why pinpointing the exact number of people who play at illegal gambling casinos that are in debt is difficult is the culture of Japan. Namely, in Japanese society, there is a stigma attached to gambling and being in debt, which is why many players choose to remain silent even in the face of gambling addiction and debt.
Another major problem is that the government isn’t doing enough to shine the light on problem gambling and gambling addiction, and this can be seen in the lack of responsible gambling organizations and charities in the country that would help battle this problem.
