While there are no regulated online casinos in Japan, there are still numerous online casinos that people residing in Japan can play at.
No online casinos are permitted to operate from within Japan, however, there are no laws in regard to playing at online casinos which are operated by offshore casinos.
“Offshore casinos” may sound scary, but it’s actually very common. Every online casino in the late ’90s and ’00s operated this way, and many continue to do so today.
However, with no regulation, you have to make sure that you only play at reputable casinos. These online casinos can’t be held accountable by a governing agency, therefore you should only be playing at trustworthy online casinos.
With the assistance of Casilife.com, I have this article on the best online casinos for gamblers residing in Japan to play at. These online casinos are picked based on trust, game selection and overall customer service.
Konibet: Konibet is one of the most popular casinos catering to Japan. One of their biggest selling points is their selection of online slot machines. They also offer a very generous rewards program, where, depending on your VIP level, you can earn up to 1.5% cash rebate with a very small wagering requirement.
Konibet has a great slot selection, including the likes of Sweet Bonanza and Money Train 2. They are always adding new slots, and also offer over 100 different jackpot slots. Their website allows you to filter the slots as well, so you can see what the newest slots are, or what the current most popular slots are.
If you are a fan of live dealer games, Konibet also offers multiple live dealer games including Blackjack and Roulette.
Konibet offers a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal options, including cryptocurrency. They have been live since 2020, and while they aren’t licensed in Japan, they are licensed in Curacao.
Happistar Casino: Happistar Casino is known for its excellent welcome bonus, where you can earn up to ¥82,777 depending on how much you deposit. They also give all new players 200 free spins.
This is another casino that is licensed in Curacao and is fast becoming one of the top online casinos in Asia. They cater primarily to Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand and what really makes them stand out is their wagering requirements, which are low compared to other casinos within the same market.
Happistar Casino uses a variety of different software providers such as Red Tiger Gaming, Spearhead Studios, and Evolution Gaming. They have a wide variety of slots and table games from different providers. So if you are a Baccarat fan but don’t enjoy the software offered by Evolution Gaming, you can choose to play the Baccarat game operated by Ezugi or Play’n GO, all within the same online casino.
Where Happistar really stands out though is their sports betting. If you are primarily looking to bet on sports, then Happistar has to be your only choice. They offer an incredible amount of sports that you can bet on and also offer both esports and virtual sports.
On top of that, they are always offering promotions related to games that week. For example in a week involving Spain vs Norway in the European Championship qualification, if you bet on that game you also get 10 free spins for every goal scored in that match.
Happistar has a cash-out option, allowing you to cash out bets both partially or in full during a match, and also offers a daily reload bonus on sports meaning every deposit earns you a bonus.
Happistar has a solid online casino, but where they really stand out is their sports betting platform and they are my top recommendation for any players residing in Japan who are looking to bet on sports.
Casino Friday: Another great option for players residing in Japan is Casino Friday. This is only an online casino with no sports, but they have an excellent selection of slots. It is also a very visually appealing and colourful website.
Casino Friday caters very well to the audience which is new to online casinos, and if you haven’t signed up at one before, this can be a good starting point. The website is laid out very simple, and they have an excellent selection of slots to play at.
Slots include Moon Princess Trinity, Starlight Princess, and Moon Princess which generally appeal more to the Asian audience.
What really makes Casino Friday stand out, however, is their Livespins feature. With Livespins, you get to play slots in a social setting There are live streamers playing slots, and you get to play along with them, and place your bet together. It’s not just you either; there are other people all in the chat working with you.
It’s an incredibly popular feature that is not available at most online casinos, so it really makes Casino Friday stand out. It adds a real social element to slots and is a lot of fun.
In short, any of the three online casinos above is a great option for players residing in Japan.
If game selection is your priority, then Konibet is the best choice. If you enjoy betting sports, then you should go with Happistar Casino. And finally, if you are new to online casinos or would like to add a social element to slots, be sure to choose Casino Friday.