Is crypto betting legal in Japan?

The legal status of crypto betting in Japan is complex and best described as a legal gray area, although it leans towards being illegal. Officially, most forms of gambling are prohibited under Chapter 23 of the Japanese Penal Code. This prohibition extends to online gambling, and the use of cryptocurrency as a payment method does not alter its legality.

While there is no specific law that explicitly outlaws crypto betting, it falls under the general ban on unauthorized gambling. The Japanese government has been increasing its efforts to combat illegal online gambling, including a number of arrests and investigations in 2023 and 2024 targeting both operators and players of offshore online casinos.

Authorities have also urged financial institutions, including cryptocurrency exchanges, to block transactions related to online gambling. Despite these measures, the enforcement against individual players remains a challenge for the authorities, which contributes to the ambiguity of the situation. A decision on whether to implement a nationwide blocking of online casino sites is expected by the end of 2025.