A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers has decided to start discussions on a complete ban of sports betting that violates the Penal Code. The sports parliamentary league, chaired by former Prime Minister Taro Aso, will set up a project team to consider legislation protecting athletes and referees from gambling-related misconduct.
On Tuesday, December 17, 2025, a cross-party sports parliamentary league held an executive meeting at the Diet Building and confirmed plans to discuss a complete ban on sports betting. The initiative addresses the widespread growth of betting on domestic and international sporting outcomes. The group emphasized that sports betting will not be permitted in Japan, distancing itself from the practice despite its legality in the other six G7 nations, stating that it “does not fit Japan.”
Chaired by former Prime Minister Taro Aso, the league will establish a project team led by Liberal Democratic Party's former Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita. Discussions with experts are set to begin early next year. In developing the legislation, the team plans to reference the Council of Europe's 2019 Macolin Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, which promotes public agencies for information collection, international sharing, and cooperation against match-fixing and fraud. While ratification is an option, the focus is on domestic laws enabling quicker, more flexible responses.
According to the Council for Sports Ecosystem Promotion, Japanese residents wagered at least ¥6.4503 trillion on overseas sports betting sites, with ¥1.0183 trillion on domestic sports.
