It’s fair to say that when it comes to gambling Japanese citizens don’t exactly have lots of choices, with the only truly legal options being a handful of approved sporting events and the government-run lottery. Having said that, there are several gray areas, such as Pachinko, where gambling is dressed up as entertainment. Although land-based casinos are strictly monitored to make sure only foreign (non-Japanese) people are allowed entry, Japanese nationals are able to play on online casinos operated by overseas companies, as these are currently tolerated, although not officially approved of.
So what is playing at an online casino in Japan actually like? Let’s look at the pros and cons of playing at an online casino.
The pros of playing at an online casino in Japan
- Convenience
Going online to play slots or the table games you really like is so easy, especially when you can login to a casino account from your laptop, phone or other mobile devices like a tablet. Plus you can access an online casino 24 hours a day to suit your lifestyle and free time periods, and you don’t have to leave the house! Compare a Japanese Online Casino to the chore of locating a government-approved gambling outlet where you must visit to take part in the official sporting activities legalized gambling allows for.
- A wider range of choice
Online casinos can offer many hundreds of slot titles covering all genres, from cartoon and historical to adventure and sci-fi. There are usually also lots of table games like craps, poker, blackjack, and baccarat to try out. There may be several styles of each too so you won’t get bored, and a live dealer room is common for at least part of every day if you prefer to have some interaction with others. Meanwhile, legalized offline gambling covers only a handful of sporting events or competitions and the national lotto – so the choice is very limited.
- The chance to play in free mode
Whether you are short of cash one day, or simply want to try out a game before wagering real money, most online casinos allow everyone to try games out in demo or free mode. If you enjoy the game and feel comfortable at the casino then you may decide to invest real money in it.
- Few financial limits
Few online casinos place limits on the amount a player can wager, (although they usually do remind people to gamble responsibly), ultimately players are given the autonomy to make their own choices, while government-controlled gambling has very low limits and many restrictions.
- No tax
There’s no system to collect it so you can keep all your winnings!
The cons of playing at an online casino in Japan
- As they are not legalized you must be aware of fake or untrustworthy sites – these offer xero protection to players.
- Some online casinos don’t support the Japanese language
- They lack the buzz that offline gambling events can offer.