For decades, casino gambling was illegal in Japan, despite the country having one of the world’s largest consumer economies. While forms of betting such as horse racing and pachinko operated legally under specific frameworks, full-scale casinos were prohibited.
That changed in 2016 when Japan passed the Integrated Resort (IR) Promotion Act, formally allowing casino development under strict regulation. The move followed years of political debate over tourism strategy, economic revitalization and social safeguards.