Best Online Betting Sites in Japan 2023 – Compare Top Sports Betting Websites

Peter Addison

People in Japan have always enjoyed a gamble, although sports betting is not (legally) included in the betting options available. Currently, even the best online betting sites in Japan 2023 offer legal betting on horse racing, cycling, speedboat racing and speedway. There are moves though in 2023 to expand this tight selection to include baseball, soccer and basketball.For people in Japan who want to place their yen on sports bets beyond horse racing and co., offshore betting is currently their best option. To bet on the Nippon Baseball League, or soccer’s J-League, accessing an offshore betting site using a VPN is not at all difficult.

Here we take a look at some of the top betting sites available to people in Japan.

10 Best Sports Betting Sites in Japan

  • All
NO.1 JAPAN BETTING SITE
16/12/21

Up To $2,500 Bonus + $10 Free Bet

Up To $2,500 Bonus + $10 Free Bet

  • Competitive odds & range of live markets
  • Range of payment methods inc. e-wallets
  • Great Conquestador player perks
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20+ | Responsible Gambling | Mobile Incorporated is regulated by MGA | License number is MGA / B2C / 818/2020 | rgf.org.mt | 20 years old with promotional terms and conditions As mentioned above, only newly registered players. 100% initial bonus of up to $ 300. Second deposit bonus for 200% of up to $ 100. A 75% third deposit bonus of up to $ 400. 4th deposit bonus for 50% of up to $ 500. 5th deposit bonus for 25% of up to $ 1000.
31/03/22

$2,000 + $10 Free Bet

$2,000 + $10 Free Bet

  • Huge Welcome Bonus
  • Support most Japanese payment methods
  • Excellent sportsbook for Baseball
9.8
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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2
T&Cs apply
15/02/23

200% Bonus up to 10,000 EUR + 50 Free Spins

200% Bonus up to 10,000 EUR + 50 Free Spins

  • Best rated new sportsbook in Japan
  • Great range of eSports
  • Super live betting coverage
9.9
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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Learn More
1
Valid from 16th February 2023. New players only. The first deposit needs to be made within 30 days from registering. Min 20 EUR deposit. The winnings from free spins are treated as a bonus, General Terms and Conditions of Lucky Block apply. You have 14 days to complete the wagering requirements of the 200% bonus.
01/11/22

100% Deposit Sports Bonus Up To €/$100

100% Deposit Sports Bonus Up To €/$100

  • Pick up weekly cashback bonus
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Register with MegaPari and receive a welcome bonus on the first deposit up to €/$100
01/03/22

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  • 4,000 sport events with the best odds
  • In-play sports betting available
  • Range of virtual games & eSports
9.8
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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1
The bonus shall become valid only if all bonus terms and conditions are partially, fully, and/or otherwise satisfied as published in the particular bonus offer. Bets placed on Sports events must meet certain conditions to count towards the bonus wagering: Coupon must be of odds of 1.85 or greater.
02/11/22

First Deposit Bonus Up To $100

First Deposit Bonus Up To $100

  • Superb in-play markets
  • Extensive football markets
  • Withdrawals processed quickly
9.8
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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0
The bonus amount is 100% of the deposited sum (but not more than $100 or or equivalent in your local currency). To withdraw the awarded amount, a player may need to make a ‘turnover’ required (30 times).
09/08/22

Up to ¥200,000 + 200 Free Spins First Deposit Bonus

Up to ¥200,000 + 200 Free Spins First Deposit Bonus

  • Great option for betting on e-Sports
  • Great value baseball odds
  • Generous casino bonus programme
9.8
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Welcome Bonus consists of 5 bonus offers totalling $2,500 in bonuses. First deposit bonus must be activated within 70 days of registering on the site or it may be removed from your account. Deposits of $20 or more will claim a 100% matched first deposit bonus up to $300. A cash wagering requirement of 20x the value of the deposit + bonus applies. Bonus percentages and wagering requirements are subject to variation. Bonus winnings are capped at 20x the value of your bonus.
05/05/22

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This offer is only applicable for the first deposit when opening BetInAsia BLACK platform account. One-time 25% Deposit Bonus (valued up to €125) will be added to the customer’s first deposit valued up to €500. Bonus amount turnover requirement for withdrawal is: Customer balance will be withdrawable after the total amount (deposit + bonus) has 10x turnover with minimum odds of 1.80 (only winning or losing bets are considered as turnover – push/void bets are not).
31/12/21

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  • Win free bets as a bonus for wins
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14/10/21

First Deposit Bonus Up To ¥12,500

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  • Incredible Welcome Offer
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The bonus amount is 100% of the deposited sum (but not more than ¥12,500 or or equivalent in your local currency). To withdraw the awarded amount, a player may need to make a ‘turnover’ required (30 times).
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How We Rank the Best Online Betting Sites in Japan

A lot of thought goes into our considerations of the best sports betting sites available to sports bettors in Japan. This is because we want our site users to have the best experience possible when it comes to their sports betting, and for our site to become the most valuable sports betting resource available on the world wide web. Here are the core criteria we use when making our evaluations.

Special Features

We think it’s important that the best sports books are those with a high number of useful features. Upcoming bets is the most important aspect of any sports betting site, but features such as in-play betting and cashing out are both now seen as essential, as are others.

Site should also offer mobile apps, or at least sites that are mobile-optimised so that they work immaculately on phone and tablets. Live streaming, virtual sports, bet builders … the possible options are somewhat endless.

Security

We should all now be aware of the potential hazards of internet usage, and we all probably know someone who has had their personal or financial information compromised in some way. It is the responsibility of bookies to make sure they keep your personal and financial details safe.

At SafeBettingSites we only recommend sports betting sites in Japan that are one hundred percent secure – ones that use state-of-the-art encryption tools and SSL security to keep your details as safe as possible.

Bonuses and Promotions

The quality of bonuses and promotions is often overlooked in leu of the quantity, but once you’ve acquired your ‘free’ bonus you’ll find T&Cs that means excessive wagering – so much so that it’s unlikely you’ll have much bonus money left once you’ve done what’s expected of you.

The above is why we look for bonuses that give you a genuine chance of getting something out of then. The best welcome bonuses should give you the chance to try out a site before parting with your own money.

Ease of Use

The best betting sites in Japan want to offer as many sports betting markets as possible, both upcoming and in-play. As a result, sports books can become a little bewildering, especially for newcomers. We champion brands that manage to balance functionality and useability, which we admit is a tricky thing to do.

Online Reputation of the Sites

And lastly – one of our most valued features we check for, that is often forgotten: Reputation. You can learn a lot of how the site is perceived online by other players.

One of the best ways we gauge the suitability of sites on our list of the best sportsbooks in Japan is via our own experience. All of the people behind SafeBettingSites have years of experience in the sports betting realm, which means we are really ‘in the know’ when it comes to sports betting in Japan or anywhere on the globe.

We use our site to share our experience with our site users. As we have been active in the sports betting sector for so long, our wisdom in this field is invaluable and can be trusted completely. There are no better people than us to tell to you which sites – for example 888sport – you should be using for your sports betting, and which sites you need to ignore.

Best Online Betting Site in Japan Reviewed

1. LuckyBlock – The Best Betting Site in Japan 2023

Even though LuckyBlock is a relatively new site it tops our list of the best betting sites in Japan. It is licensed in Curacao and regulated by the Curacao Gaming Control Board.

Luckyblock sportsbook

One of the main reasons we rate this site so highly is the diverse range of sports on offer. There are more than 30 different sports with markets. Some of the highlights are baseball, football, tennis, golf, and American football. All of these have incredibly wide markets with various betting types and highly competitive odds.

eSports betting is also something that makes LuckyBlock stand out from many of its competitors.  It has an impressive selection of games 15 of the most popular games like Dota 2, Valorant, Starcraft, and Rainbow Six. There’s also a great selection of virtual sports, eFootball, eFighting, eCricket, and eTennis can all be bet on. What’s more, you can stream selected eSports matches directly from the site.

LuckyBlock players can deposit using eight cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. All of which have incredibly fast transaction times for deposits and withdrawals. Traditional card payment and wire transfers are also accepted at Lucky Block, as are Apple Pay and Google Pay.

It also has one of the best welcome bonuses around with new players automatically qualifying for a 200% welcome bonus and 50 free spins on Wanted Dead or a Wild.

The bonus is paid in 10 installments with a maximum of 10,000 EUR available to those who deposit 5,000 EUR (or crypto/fiat equivalent). The offer is valid only on the first deposit made in the casino, with the minimum deposit required 20 EUR.

So for example, a player who deposits 100 EUR will immediately receive free spins and 200 EUR in the bonus bank. And for every €600 you play for (win or loose), you get €20 paid out to your account from the bonus bank, until you have cleared the entire €200.

fa_shield-checkWhat we like:

  • Huge range of sports
  • Highly competitive odds
  • Speedy withdrawals
  • Impressive eSports selection
  • User-friendly interface on desktop and mobile


fa_shield-closeWhat we don’t:

  • No racebook

Key Features of the Best Online Sports Betting Sites in Japan

Different jurisdictions have different attitudes to what it is important at a sports betting site. For people in the US for example, the moneyline available for each event is perhaps the most important aspect. Sports bettors in Japan probably don’t even know what moneyline means (which is fine).

We think that Japanese sports bettors like in-play betting and the live streaming of events the most. Esports are huge in Japan too (with CS:GO betting sites especially important), so eSports betting is crucial too. Below you will find a useful table listing our top ten best-rated betting sites in Japan, and which of them get a ‘tick in the box when it comes to these three most-useful features.

Sportsbook In-Play Betting Live Streaming eSports Betting Minimum Deposit
Conquestador $10
Bons €20
LuckyBlock fa shield close ¥100
MegaPari ¥75
LiliBet €20
Rabona €10
TedBet fa shield close €10
BetInAsia fa shield close €2
888sport $10
Wazamba $10

Top Betting Sites in Japan by 2023 by Category

All of the sites on our top ten list can hit, pitch and field to put it into baseball terms, but some are hitting .300 in specific areas, and are in danger of being dropped from the rotation in others.

This means that each bookmaker in our list has specific strengths. If you are on the search for sports books that suits a particular need, then you will want to know to which site you ought to be heading. Here are a range of betting site specifics, and which site fits each specific criteria the best.

🏆 Best Betting Site in Japan Conquestador
📊 Top New Sportsbook for Japan Bons
💰 Best for Bonuses Rabona
🎲 Best Odds Casitabi
⚽ Best Soccer Betting Site Conquestador
📱 Top mobile app MegaPari
🧩 Safest Bookmaker Conquestador
💰 Many Deposit Methods 1xBet
🔁 Best eSport Betting Site Rabona
⭐ Top for Extra Features Bons

International Online Betting Sites That Accept Japanese Players

Sports betting is legal in Japan and has been since 1998, but there are severe restrictions in place, as will be examined later. Sports betting in Japan is controlled by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and there are really only two kinds – toto betting and pari-mutuel betting. Neither are quite like sports betting as the rest of the world understands it though.

There are no official sports books in Japan as the government does not allow them, and there are definitely no online sports books that operate within the country. Japanese sports bettors therefore have to venture abroad – online at least – to place their sports bets. Technically, such sites are not operating illegally or legally, but if you are based in Japan and you use a site that accepts Japanese customers, your chances of falling foul of the law are zero.

Here then are the best three international online betting sites – in our opinion – that accept Japanese players.

  • All

€30 in free bets + €10 casino bonus

31/12/21

€30 in free bets + €10 casino bonus

  • Well-respected global brand
  • Markets from all around the world
  • Win free bets as a bonus for wins
9.9
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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0

Get up to €100 in free bets

29/07/21

Get up to €100 in free bets

  • No.1 in Japan for exchange betting
  • Exceptional coverage of horse racing
  • Free bets when you use the exchange
9.6
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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0

Welcome Bonuses Available in Japan

As there are no sports books in Japan, there are no welcome bonuses available in Japan, either – it really is that simple. However, that’s not something that stops Japanese sports bettors from acquiring them. Global sites that accept Japanese customers offer bonuses, and some of them are even offered in Japanese yen.

Here is a quick guide to some of the most common sports bet bonuses offered to Japanese sports bettors.

Free Bet

A free bet is a wager than you can place without using any of your own money. Sometimes a sports betting site will offer you a bet as a reward for signing up with them, but most commonly a site will give you a sports bet for free if you make a bet of your own first. These types of offers are usually something like ‘bet €10, get a €10 free bet.’

There may be restrictions in place about how you can use your free bet, but usually these limitations are not too terrible. One thing you need to be aware of that is common with all free bet offers is that if your free bet is a winning one, only your winnings are paid into your account. Your free bet stake is never returned no matter if your bet wins or loses.

Top Choice of Free Bets:

  • MegaPari– Bet €5 and get €30 in free bets
  • Betfair – Get up to €100 in free bets
  • Bons – $2,000 + $10 Free Bet

Welcome Bonus

The second most common bonus offered by sports betting sites is what is known as a welcome bonus. If you have ever played at an online casino, then this concept should be familiar to you. When you join a sports book, you may be offered a matched deal. Whatever you make as your first deposit, the sports book will offer you the same amount in bonus money.

This is a ‘100% matched bonus’. If your deposit is $100, then you will get back $100 in bonus money. Bonus money is ‘money’ is so much as you can use it to place wagers, but you can never withdraw it. Once you have used it you may also have to make a minimum amount of wagers using your own money before you can withdraw any winnings you’ve made from it.

Top Choices of Matched Bonuses:

  • Betway – 100% deposit bonus up to €/$1,000
  • 1xBet – Deposit bonus up to ¥12,300

Key Bonus Terms for Japan Offers

There is one thing that all bonus offers have in common – the dreaded terms and conditions. A deal where you get ¥10,000 for virtually nothing may look amazing on the surface, but the gloss is taken off once you take a deep dive into the T&Cs. It’s not like online sports books are trying to trick you – far from it. It’s just that if they offered a ¥10,000 sign up bonus to everyone who signed up for them, they would soon go out of business.

Here are some of the key terms you need to understand when reading the terms and conditions attached to any welcome offer.

Minimum Odds

This is one of the key terms of any deal. You may think it’s a no brainer to take your bonus money and put it straight on a dead cert. It’s a no brainer, right? You’re bound to get something back, and something for free. Sports books have thought of this and will specify the minimum bookmaker odds of an event on which you can place your free bet money.

Don’t be too put off, though, as the odds are typically quite generous. Bookmaker odds of 1.50 (or 1/2 as fractional odds) is the most common limit. Sports books don’t force you to put your bonus money on a long shot. This is quite understandable as – should your long shot come in – the online sports book could lose quite a significant amount of money!

Playthrough

So, you grabbed ¥10,000 bonus, placed your bets and you’re left with ¥4,000, which is still a decent return – nice! You make the moves to withdraw and … you discover that you can’t! The bit in the T&Cs you may have missed is ‘playthrough’ requirements.

After you have used a bonus, you will need to make a minimum number of bets using your own money. A common playthrough requirement for a sports book bonus is x4. For a ¥10,000 bonus, that means you must place ¥40,000 of your own money bets before you can cash out your initial bonus winnings.

Maximum Return

We’re going to mention that ‘long shot’ again. One of the biggest shocks in recent history was Leicester City winning the 2015-16 English Premier League at bookmaker odds of 5,000-1. Imagine if you’d placed your ¥10,000 free bet money on that – you would now have ¥5,000,000 in your account …

… or not. Sports books have thought of this too and many free bet offers come with a ‘maximum return’ caveat. So, if our example offer had a return cap of ¥100,000, then that’s the maximum any bet you make with bonus money will return.

Time’s Running Out!

Nothing lasts forever and free bet offers certainly don’t. Any T&Cs attached to a free bet will display an expiry time. Once that time is up your free bet is removed from your account and you’ve no hope of ever seeing it again.

How to Choose the Top Betting Sites in Japan

The easiest way to commence your sports betting career in Japan is to pick one of recommended betting sites. We strongly suggest that we do, but you also quite free to make your own decision. If you do decide to ‘go it alone’ we feel you ought to take note of the following steps, to make sure you’re making the correct choice for you.

  • Make sure your chosen site accepts customers from Japan
  • If it makes your life easier, check to see if the site in available in nihongo
  • It’ll be to your benefit if the site accepts yen as a currency
  • When making payments/making a bookmaker withdrawal, see if the site charges you for either
  • Review the available payment methods, and see if they are to your approval
  • See the sports markets that are available, and if they are the ones you’re looking to bet on
  • Use both the desktop site and any mobile apps, and make sure they all work as they should
  • Carefully review any welcome bonuses and promotions, checking for any nasties in the T&Cs
  • Make sure the site has a top tier licence (UK, Malta, Gibraltar and Alderney are ones to look out for)
  • Look around the web for independent reviews, and see how often they are positive
  • Reach out to customer support, and see how responsive they are
  • Check out any bonus features available that are important to you, such as live streaming

Sports Markets Available to Japan Bettors

The vast majority of the best sports books in Japan have an outstanding number of markets – certainly all the bookies in our top ten list of the best do. Most sports bettors find this array of choices a little bewildering, so they choose to concentrate upon specific markets, which we think is ideal. Here’s a quick overview of three of the most popular sporting pastimes in Japan, and how you can wager upon them.

Football/Soccer

football

Football is the truly global game, and while the sport took a while to become popular in Japan (the national professional football league – the J-League – only came into being in 1992), the leading football matches in the country attract over 20,000 spectators. Betting on the J-League via the ‘toto’ is currently one of the only legitimate ways of betting on football in Japan.

Of course, if you want to bet on football, you are spoilt for choice. Most bookies offer access to practically every football match taking place on the planet, from major competitions such as the FIFA World Cup or the English Premier League, to youth competitions and reserve league games practically anywhere.

Tip: There is much more to betting on football than the simple ‘1X2’ forecast. Take a look at all the betting options on football that are available, and see which betting system your skills are most suited to.

Baseball

tennis

Most people outside of Asia and America think that baseball is only played in the USA, but nothing could be further than the truth. Baseball is the number one watched sport in Japan, and the Nippon Baseball League is massive. In addtion, Japanese baseball fans keep close tabs on their heroes who have gone on the cause ructions in MLB, such as Ichiro Suzuki, Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani.

The vast majority of sports betting sites will have easy access to MLB and NBL games, plus other major baseball leagues in South Korea, Mexico and Australia, for example.

Tip: As any baseball fans knows, baseball matches are notoriously difficult to predict and simply backing the favourite each time is not the way forward. You really need to examine all the betting options available to you, and options such as betting on the total number of runs scored in a game may be a better way to becoming a successful baseball bettor.

eSports Betting Sites

eSports Betting svg

Asia is where eSports and eSports betting sites have really really taken off. Japan is one of the nations at the forefront of the eSports revolution, and some of the leading eSports events in Fortnite, League of Legends, CS:GO and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six are watched by larger crowds than at football or baseball games, if you include spectators watching online.

Many industry experts predict that eSports will eventually overtake ‘real world’ sports in terms of attendance and popularity. If you enjoy playing video games then you’ve probably watched Twitch streamers or even global eSports events. If so, now is the time to put your knowledge to the test with the best in eSports betting.

Tip: Unlike ‘real world’ sporting contests, most eSport matches are broadcast and streamed on the internet for free. This means you can watch the events you’ve placed wagers upon for nothing, unlike major real-world sports such as football. This can really enhance your eSports betting sites experience.

Other Sports to Bet On in Japan

It would be impossible to list just three activities in Japan that are popular and that are available to bet on. Below is a list of other sports popular in the country. All should be easy to place wagers upon, especially at our recommended sites.

  • Pro Wrestling
  • Tennis
  • Boxing
  • Basketball
  • Motor Sports
  • Golf
  • Martial Arts
  • MMA/UFC

Tip: Don’t forget, just because you are in Japan that does not mean you are legally obliged to only bet on sports that are popular! Look into the complete list of markets that are available – you may uncover a brand new sports betting favourite!

Where to Find the Best Betting Odds

The odds at online sports betting sites are calculated by industry experts. They are carefully worked out so that no matter the result of any particular sports contest on which odds are offered, the sports book has the best chance of making a profit. This is of course how sports books stay in business!

Most sports books tailor their odds so that they are in line with their rivals, but a few take an extra daily step and check their odds to make sure their prices are at least identical to the best prices being offered by their competitors. This is known as ‘best odds guaranteed’. Below you will find three of our favourite bookies that take this step to make sure their customers get the most beneficial betting odds available.

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€30 in free bets + €10 casino bonus

31/12/21

€30 in free bets + €10 casino bonus

  • Well-respected global brand
  • Markets from all around the world
  • Win free bets as a bonus for wins
9.9
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
Claim Bonus
0

Up To $2,500 Bonus + $10 Free Bet

16/12/21

Up To $2,500 Bonus + $10 Free Bet

  • Competitive odds & range of live markets
  • Range of payment methods inc. e-wallets
  • Great Conquestador player perks
9.7
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
Claim Bonus
0
20+ | Responsible Gambling | Mobile Incorporated is regulated by MGA | License number is MGA / B2C / 818/2020 | rgf.org.mt | 20 years old with promotional terms and conditions As mentioned above, only newly registered players. 100% initial bonus of up to $ 300. Second deposit bonus for 200% of up to $ 100. A 75% third deposit bonus of up to $ 400. 4th deposit bonus for 50% of up to $ 500. 5th deposit bonus for 25% of up to $ 1000.

Payment Methods Available to Bettors in Japan

best betting sites banking

As there are no legal sports books in Japan, the payment methods open to people in Japan at online bookies are the same as they are anywhere in the world … almost. Because of the way Japanese society works, credit and debit cards have not really taken off in the country as they have elsewhere. Indeed, paying for anything in Japan with anything other than cash is considered impolite.

Perhaps the easiest alternative to a bank (or otherwise) issued debit or credit card is by using an eWallet. Japan people mainly use eWallets where cash payments are available, such as paying online. The largest and most popular eWallet in Japan by far is PayPal. Notably some other popular global eWallet soltuions such as Skrill and Paysafecard are not available in the country, although Neteller has been since 2018. It’s easy to make a bookmaker withdrawal or deposit via PayPal.

A Bitcoin bookmaker is a rare site (and sight) in Japan. Despite the growing popularity of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, most sports books available to people in Japan don’t accept them. You may be able to find a Bitcoin bookmaker, if you search hard enough.

Here is some information about common payment methods available to sports bettors in Japan.

Payment Method Fees Min Bookmaker Deposit* Min Bookmaker Withdrawal*
Debit/credit card 0% €5 (¥650) €10 (¥1,300)
Bank Transfer 0% (banks may charge) €10 €10
Neteller 1.9-4.95% €10 €10
PayPal 0% (withdrawal fee may apply) €5 €5
Cryptocurrencies 0% 0.001 BTC (¥4,000) 0.005 BTC (¥20,000)

*varies by bookmaker

Betting Apps and Mobile Sports Betting Available in Japan

It’s no surprise that mobile phones are extremely popular in Japan, seeing that the country is an absolute hotbed of modern technology. It’s estimated that around 95 million people in the country own a smartphone out of a population of 125 million. Unlike most countries though where Android handsets tend to dominate the market, the Apple-Android share in Japan is about 50:50, with the iPhone SE being the most popular phone model.

Sports books first began to take the mobile market seriously in 2010, with many of them creating mobile apps that could be downloaded and installed. The move away from apps though began in 2015 with the creation of HTML5. This site-building language allowed for the creation of adaptive websites meaning desktop sites looked fine and worked perfectly well via mobile browsers too.

By 2020 most sites had stopped offering apps and concentrated on their adaptive websites instead. Below are three of what we think are the best mobile offerings available to mobile sports bettors in Japan.

  • All

First Deposit Bonus Up To $100

02/11/22

First Deposit Bonus Up To $100

  • Superb in-play markets
  • Extensive football markets
  • Withdrawals processed quickly
9.8
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
Claim Bonus
0
The bonus amount is 100% of the deposited sum (but not more than $100 or or equivalent in your local currency). To withdraw the awarded amount, a player may need to make a ‘turnover’ required (30 times).

100% Deposit Sports Bonus Up To €/$100

01/11/22

100% Deposit Sports Bonus Up To €/$100

  • Pick up weekly cashback bonus
  • Professional customer service
  • User-friendly betting platform
9.8
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
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0
Register with MegaPari and receive a welcome bonus on the first deposit up to €/$100

¥12,300 bonus available

29/07/21

¥12,300 bonus available

  • Happy to accept customers from Japan
  • Global partner of FC Barcelona
  • Easy registration - all done in one click!
9.5
5 Stars
NO CODE REQUIRED
Claim Bonus
2

Online Gambling Law in Japan

Gambling is legal in Japan, although restricted. Japanese people adore gambling though, and find ways to ‘circumvent’ legalities. For example, pachinko – a mix of slots and pinball – is incredibly popular in Japan, but you cannot legally win money playing it. Pachinko players are awarded ‘prizes’ for winning at pachinko, which they can then sell for money … usually at a special shop right next door to the pachinko parlour they are playing at.

Using VPN to Access Sites

Sports betting is restricted in Japan too, but Japanese sports bettors have a way of betting on sports without doing anything illegal. They tend to access international sports betting sites that are willing to accept Japanese customers. The internet in Japan is not as restricted as it is in other Asian countries (such as China and South Korea) which means that people are able to access international sites without the need of a VPN.

All this may soon be moot, anyhow. Like the US, Japan is softening its attitude to online sports betting and moves are currently being made to make specific aspects of sports betting legal. It is thought that the Japanese goverment is currently considering the relaxation of betting rules on either the J-League (soccer) or the NPB (baseball). It all goes well, then all barriers preventing people in Japan from betting could soon be taken down.

5 Ultimate Sportsbook Betting Tips

In sports betting, there’s never any guarantee you’ll make a profit. That’s as true in Japan as it is anywhere else in the world. With that said, there are certain tactics and strategies you can use to vastly improve your chances. Below are five top tips to help you out in this regard.

One thing you must remember when it comes to your sports betting is that there’s no easy route to winning money, no matter what anyone will tell you. The internet is awash with betting systems that promise ‘guaranteed income’ but mostly they are all useless.

Here are a few tips for your sports betting endeavours that you should actually find useful.

Tip 1: Target Promotions

There’s no better feeling when winning a sports bet when you know the stake you used to win was not your own money! There are dozens of bonuses and promotions for sports betting all over the world wide web, and you need to take full advantage of them. Okay, you will not become a sports betting millionaire, but you can use any winnings to place further bets and hopefully win big.

Tip 2: Open More Then One Account

And by this we mean accounts at multiple sports books as you should never open more than one account at the same sports betting site (you risk a ban if you do). No matter how much you favour one sports betting site, you should have accounts at a decent number of them (we recommend a dozen). That way you’ll always have access to as many bonus offers and ongoing promos as possible.

Tip 3: Stay Comfortable

There’s no point betting on horse racing if you don’t know your short head from your ante-post, The more you know about one specific sport, the more likely you are going to be successful in your betting when you place your wagers upon it. Indeed, most successful sports bettors concentrate upon one sport, and one sport alone.

Tip 4: Do Your Research

No matter how much you know about one particular sport, you’ll get nowhere unless you keep up with the latest news. Many people were still placing bets on Liverpool to retain their EPL title in 2021 for example long after the side’s three main centre backs (Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip) had all suffered season-ending injuries. In the end, Liverpool went on a terrible run of six defeats in seven games (including losing 2-0 at home to arch-rivals Everton) and could only finish third.

Keep up-to-date if you want to maximise your sports betting profits.

Tip 5: Stay Disciplined

It can be easy to ’tilt’ like poker players do and go ‘all in’ with your sports betting, especially when you suffer a losing streak. EVERY sports bettor suffers losing streaks, no matter how successful their sports betting has been in the past.

Discipline means doing the same thing over and and over again if – in the long run – it proves to be successful. If something works for a long time, then it will work for a long time again once a bad run is over. Don’t panic and change track just because you’ve lost a few bets in a row.

Final Thoughts on Best Online Betting Sites in Japan

If you are tired of the restrictions placed upon you as a sports bettor in Japan, then good news is likely to be around the corner. The current ‘vibes’ being given off by the Japanese government regarding the full legalisation of most forms of sports betting seem extremely positive. With Japan seemingly primed to follow the US model of sports betting legalisation, it’s a good time to be a Japan fan of wagering on sports.

You don’t have to wait until full legalisation of sports betting in Japan anyhow, as many international sports betting sites – such as the ones listed here – are completely happy to accept Japanese customers. You may be operating in a slightly grey area, but you are not going to be prosecuted for using such sites, and no one has ever been. Feel free to enjoy your sports betting, and may the sun shine luck down upon you! Arigatou!

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Online Betting in Japan FAQs

What is the best betting site in Japan right now?

Really we recommend any of the sites in our list of the top ten. We think 888sport offers the most for customers in Japan, with Betfair not far behind.

Is there such a thing as a Bitcoin bookmaker in Japan?

Some international betting sites accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but most don't. If you want to use Bitcoin at a site, you should be able to find a Bitcoin bookmaker if you search diligently enough.

What are the best CS:GO betting sites available?

Most sites will now cover eSports and especially for Asian customers, as eSports betting sites are popular in the continent. You can choose any of the sites on our top ten list, but we feel Betway is number one for eSports betting.

Is it legal to bet online in Japan?

Yes and no. You can't use an online book in Japan, as there aren't any. You are free to use sports books that are not based in Japan, such as the ones that we have lsited.

Can you use the Betfair sportsbook in Japan?

Yes, Betfair does accept customers from Japan. Betfair offers a fixed odds betting side and exchange betting options, with the latter often generating the best prices.

Is it safe to use betting sites with a VPN?

You may not need to use a VPN to access sports betting sites that exist outside of Japan, as most are not blocked. A VPN can help you access some sites. If you use a VPN, use a well-known one such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN

Peter Addison

Peter is an experienced iGaming wordsmith who has been working in the industry since 2013. He has written more words on all aspects of iGaming than he cares to remember, and has provided content for many big industry names. When not writing Peter can be found out running or gaming on his Xbox. Peter’s articles have been featured in numerous high-profile online publications such as Right Casino and Which Bingo