A revision of the law against gambling addiction, which will ban the launching of new online casinos and the posting of online ads for such sites, including on social media, takes effect on Thursday.
Gambling addiction has emerged as a headache in Japan, with many celebrities such as TV and sports personalities being arrested in recent years for engaging in online gambling, which is illegal in the country.
With the revision, the launch of new online casinos — including those in the form of smartphone apps — will be banned. The amendment also requires national and local governments to raise awareness about the illegality of online gambling.
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