A groundbreaking survey by the National Police Agency has unveiled a massive surge in online casino gambling in Japan.
An estimated 3.37 million people have participated in illegal online gambling, with approximately 1.97 million still actively betting.
Based on responses from 500 experienced gamblers, the total estimated annual wagered amount has skyrocketed to 12.4 trillion yen.
Alarmingly, 60% of respondents admitted to having symptoms of gambling addiction.
This is the first time the government has disclosed such findings, revealing how easy access via smartphones has fueled the spread of illicit gambling.
The survey, conducted by a private research firm between July last year and January this year, involved 27,145 individuals aged 15 to 79 across the country.
Of 7,000 respondents who were further questioned, 43.5%—or 3,044 people—were unaware that online gambling was illegal.
Among the 500 self-identified gamblers, the average annual bet per person was approximately 630,000 yen.
These revelations expose the urgent need for stricter regulations to curb the rampant expansion of illegal online gambling in Japan.