Finding the right sports betting site from Japan is not as simple as you might like it to be.  Unfortunately, many of the brands that you might see advertised during European football matches do not actually serve Japan.  This is the same if you watch Major League Baseball games, as US betting brands mainly only serve US states, not Japan.

Here at OddsJet, we want to make the lives of our Japanese visitors simple.  Above, you will find the top 5 betting sites for Japan in terms of the best overall mix of things you would want - JPY accounts, Japanese language sites plus great betting platforms.  Below, we offer an even longer list of online bookmakers for Japan with four important but distinct sections, all sites within each category are organized alphabetically. 

The first group notes which betting sites offer Japanese Yen accounts & offer Japanese language sites, so you may make payments and play in your native currency without having to pay currency conversion fees, and you can play and get customer support in your native language.  The second group offers Japanese Yen betting accounts, but you would need to play in English or another European language.  Third, we list the online bookmakers that offer Japanese language sites, but would require that you play in another currency.  Last, we highlight the reputable betting companies that accept customers from Japan, but where you would need to play in another currency like EUR ot USD and in another language. 

Note that many of buttons and links above and below have special, dedicated offers for Japanese users.  So even if you click to read a given bookmaker review, be sure to use this page before you move on to visit any betting sites so you may always get the best offer for new players in Japan.

Japanese Yen (JPY) betting sites that offer English or other European languages

MarathonBet was established in 1997 and is regulated by the highly reputable gaming commission of Curacao.  MarathonBet currently has over 2 million customers in over 200 countries. They are also licensed in highly regulated markets like Spain and the UK.  In 2018, it became an official partner of Manchester City.  Although they maintain several team sponsorships, they aim to offer highly competitive odds.  MarathonBet operates in 26 languages and offers accounts in over 40 different currencies which are supported by numerous banking methods.   Uniquely, MarathonBet ‘AdvanceBets’ allow players to unlock the value of their unsettled bets to place new bets.  If these bets are lost, the stake amounts need not be paid back.  Read the MarathonBet sports betting review.

Japanese language betting sites that require play in another currency like USD or EUR

Dafabet was established in 2004 and is regulated and licensed by the Philippine government.  It has become one of the premier sports betting brands in Asia, but has grown to become an international provider through its sponsorship of Celtic FC and several English football clubs.  Available Dafabet languages include English, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Greek, Polish, Spanish and Portuguese.  Dafabet account currencies include EUR, GBP, USD, RMB, MYR, THB, VNR, IDR, INR, KRW, RUB, PLN and mBTC.  Payment options vary per currency, but may include bank transfers, paysafecard, Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards and e-wallets Skrill, Neteller and EcoPayz.  Read the Dafabet sportsbook review.

Betting sites for Japan which require play in another currency & another language

Interwetten was founded in 1990.  Licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority, Interwetten offers their site in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Portuguese & Turkish (no Japanese).  Change your language of choice as you like at the bottom of their site.  Interwetten has always looked to sponsor sporting events, clubs and leagues.  Currently, they are official partners of Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim football clubs as well as the title sponsor of Super League Greece.  Available payment methods include for Japan may include MuchBetter, EcoPayz, Visa, MasterCard credit & debit cards & bank transfers.  

Is online gambling or sports betting legal in Japan?

Technically, no, it is not legal.  The Crimial Code of Japan states in chapter 23 that most forms of gambling are banned.  Some exceptions exist that relate to betting on horses or certain types of motor racing.  However, Japan essentially exists as a 'grey' market for online betting and gambling.  Operators like those listed above that are run from legal gaming jurisdictions in Malta, Gibraltar and Curacao.  The government of Japan has not looked to block access to these betting sites, nor has it looked to legally compel these gaming jurisdictions to stop allowing the registration of Japanese players. 

This article from The Asahi Shimbun newspaper outlines the recent situation for online gambling in Japan, where participation of all types of gambling is growing and there is little awareness of its illegality.  This is most likely because there is no risk of punishment for participation in these activities from Japan.  With no state-run IP blocking of these sites, no restriction of money flows and no player punishment - it appears that online sports betting is 'illegal' in name only as a technicality.  So if you are in Japan and you are interested in betting online or from your mobile, you are essentially free to do so.

What sports can you bet on at these sites from Japan?

Essentially, you can bet on just about anything you like.  Of course all the top European football and American leagues are available as these are the most popular global sports properties.  In terms of events that are popular in Japan, know that these sites all cover Nippon Professional Baseball, the J-League, various motorsports including Formula1, MotoGP and other motor bike events.  Esports is also available at all these sites with a wide array of betting markets. 

Do these companies offer Casino, Bingo or poker games for players in Japan?

No, they do not.