The Criminal Code marks as illegal most ways of gambling except betting on horse racing, playing the lottery or a local game named Pachinko and certain Motorsports. Poker and online poker are banned in Japan. As in China, a possible legalization of online gambling would be a big step for Japan inhabitants, but today we ‘sadly’ must say that. As it now, gambling was outlawed in feudal Japan so the gamblers had to set up gambling houses in abandoned temple or shrines at the outskirts of villages and towns. Mostly made up of people of lower social standing and misfits of society, the Yakuza’s name means “8-9-3.” This is a losing hand in Oicho-Kabu, a type of blackjack. Illegal gambling Yakuza are known to operate illegal casinos in Japan. In addition to traditional casino games, Mahjong can be played for money and many mahjong parlors have ties with the Yakuza to assist collecting debt from players who default.

Gambling in Japan has been strictly banned and regulated since Chapter 23 of the Criminal Code, also known as Law No.45 of the Japan Penal Code, explicitly prohibited organised wagering or private sales of lottery tickets – with hefty fines in Yen and punishment of imprisonment as the deterrent. Before they can do that, Japan will have to lift its ban on gambling, which is currently illegal in most forms. For legal purposes, pachinko machines are technically considered “gaming.”.

It’s the story of mayhem, suspense and on the seat excitement. Or maybe not. The Japanese organized mobsters, known as Yakuza, are the stuff of legend nowadays. Popularized in literature, manga, anime as well as Hollywood, the Yakuza have always had a very real place in Japanese society. Scorned by politicians and feared by the masses, average Japanese would rather not acknowledge their existence. If you wander off to any nightclub, strip club, bar or pachinko parlor, the Yakuza won’t be far.

• The Yakuza is the organized crime group in Japan
• The Yakuza is behind pachinko parlors
• It is the World’s largest organized crime syndicate.
• Anti-Yakuza legislation is being put in the Casino bill

It has been claimed that there are over 1,000 illegal casinos in Tokyo. Those not only include pachinko, but mah-jong parlors as well. It would be more accurate to call these casinos gambling houses since they are far smaller and more obscure than the larger casinos in Macau. Baccarat is also popular among the Japanese. A small illegal gambling establishment can easily make $15-$20 million in a year.
Pachinko alone has been estimated to be a $181 million dollar industry. Much money is also made through betting on sporting events and fights. This revenue is definitely goes through Yakuza hands and isn’t in accordance to Japanese gambling laws. Even the off-shore gambling houses that catered to Japanese involve Yakuza. Their influence has even wondered into the realm of the adult film industry.

Yakuza Origins

Gambling

The history of the Yakuza goes way back to the Edo period (1603-1868) in feudal Japan. Japanese society was divided different groups or classes such as the warrior class (samaurai) and the farmer class. Two classes that aren’t mentioned as much are the tekiya class (thieves) and the bakuto (gamblers). The Yakuza grew out of those two classes. As it now, gambling was outlawed in feudal Japan so the gamblers had to set up gambling houses in abandoned temple or shrines at the outskirts of villages and towns.

Mostly made up of people of lower social standing and misfits of society, the Yakuza’s name means “8-9-3.” This is a losing hand in Oicho-Kabu, a type of blackjack. Besides gambling, Yakuza also took part in loan sharking, forcing local customers in local markets to purchase their fake goods. Modern day structure of the Yakuza didn’t come into development until the early 20th century. During World War II, the Yakuza completely had to disband in order to help with the war effort. After the war ended they continued their activites.

Having a complex hierarchy, the Yakuza have more or less a classical organized crime system as seen in other groups of organized crime such as the Italian Mafia. Many Yakuza can be identified by their full-body tattoos. Known as irezumi, these tattoos can be seen most while members traditionally take off their shirts to play oicho-kabu with each other. Normally they wear long sleeved shirts to conceal their tattoos in public. Today families are dominant among the 103,000 active members. The Yamaguchi-gumi is the largest family which accounts for half all members. Created in 1915, the family comes from Kobe. Sumiyoshi-kai is considered a more laid back family with shared leadership.

Making New Casinos Yakuza Free

It has been estimated that if Japan were to have legalized casino gambling, it could be the second largest world. MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas Sands Corp, Melco Crown Entertainment as well as Wynn Resorts Ltd are operators interested in establishing casinos in Japan. In the months ahead the casino bill has a good chance on passing. This would set Japan on pace to have the first casinos erected by the beginning of the Tokyo Olympic games in 2020.

Why Is Gambling Illegal In Japan Now

The Japanese diet has been pushing a plan to legalize casino gambling in Japan. Although pachinko is profitable and illegal, a legalized market would definitely make all areas of gambling and mobile betting in Japan more lucrative. Though in support of the plan, some members Shinzo Abe’s democratic coalition party are concerned with how society will be negatively affected by casino gambling. Addiction and possible more forms of crime could emerge as a result of this bill passing.

Although the new legislature in the Japanese Casino bill includes new standards for licensing and regulating casino operators and partners, there is still concern about the involvement of the Yakuza. The current draft of the policy plan states “the hurdles to enter the business should be set high. It should not be easy for anyone to get a license and participate in the industry.”

Recently Published

Key Takeaway: The mystery of consciousness has been a subject of debate for centuries, with numerous theories vying for the title. In 2024, the Cogitate Consortium conducted an “adversarial collaboration” between Global Neuronal Workspace Theory (GNWT) and Integrated Information Theory (IIT). The study aimed to test the theories under neutral conditions, revealing that confirmation bias […]

Top Picks

Key Takeaway: President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship” accused the previous administration of stifling free expression by working with social media companies to curb misinformation and label misleading content. However, recent research suggests that less regulation can actually make the internet a less free place for speech, […]
Key Takeaway: Recent research published in Science has revealed that the brain uses multiple learning mechanisms simultaneously, revealing the complexity behind brain wiring. Neurons communicate through electric signals called synapses, which form complex networks of connections that transmit information. The traditional theory of synaptic plasticity assumes uniformity between neurons, but the new study found that […]
Key Takeaway: A new study published in Nature Astronomy claims that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected atmospheric signals on K2-18b, a distant world 124 light-years from Earth. The researchers found traces of molecules often associated with biological activity on Earth, including dimethyl sulphide (DMS). The scientists are 99.7% confident in the presence […]
Key Takeaway: Belief in the supernatural, including ghosts, spirits, astrology, and psychic powers, is more common than people might expect. These beliefs offer a sense of control, meaning, and comfort in the face of life’s unpredictability. They fall outside the boundaries of conventional science and include ideas like fate, spiritual forces, and life after death. […]
Key Takeaway: Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology is rapidly redefining human potential, with breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and machine learning enabling the translation of thoughts into action. The brain is a complex network of over 80 billion neurons, processing thoughts, memories, emotions, and sensory inputs. Advances in AI, miniaturized electronics, and neuroimaging have led to the […]

Trending

I highly recommend reading the McKinsey Global Institute’s new report, “Reskilling China: Transforming The World’s Largest Workforce Into Lifelong Learners”, which focuses on the country’s biggest employment challenge, re-training its workforce and the adoption of practices such as lifelong learning to address the growing digital transformation of its productive fabric. How to transform the country […]

Join our Newsletter

Get our monthly recap with the latest news, articles and resources.

Login

Welcome to Empirics

We are glad you have decided to join our mission of gathering the collective knowledge of Asia!
Join Empirics