Japanese Minor Referred for Treatment After Months of Gambling with Parents’ Money
Introduction: A Growing Concern Over Youth Gambling
A young boy in Japan has been sent to a child guidance center after spending several months gambling using his parents’ funds. Authorities highlighted the rising dangers posed by offshore gambling sites that fail to conduct thorough age verification checks.
The Risks of Offshore Gambling Websites
Licensed gambling platforms are usually committed to protecting their users, including enforcing strict identity verification and offering tools that help players control their gaming habits. These safeguards aim to promote responsible gambling behavior.
In contrast, offshore gambling operators often ignore these protections, exposing players—especially minors—to significant risks. Online gambling remains illegal in Japan, a country known for stringent gambling restrictions, which leads some individuals to access offshore sites despite the dangers.
This risky behavior affected a 13-year-old boy from Kanagawa Prefecture who lost around $1,700 gambling over a period of several months.
The Teen’s Prolonged Gambling Activity
Reports from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department revealed the boy had been gambling for over half a year. Initially, he used his own allowance, but then started utilizing his parents’ money. Between January and July, he accessed an offshore gambling website approximately 7,000 times.
The boy admitted that he used a smartphone gifted by his parents to place bets. He funded his gaming through PayPal by purchasing Litecoin, which was then used for wagers on the site.
When questioned, the boy explained that his interest was sparked after seeing news reports about online gambling. Since the offshore casino did not require age confirmation, he was able to lie about his age and gamble freely for months.
Authorities referred him to a child guidance center in August. Officials expressed deep concern over the inadequate protections offshore sites provide against underage gambling, emphasizing the serious harm this can cause to vulnerable young people.
New Measures in Japan to Combat Online Gambling Abuses
In response to ongoing challenges related to online gambling, Japan has recently enacted stricter laws aimed at targeting and penalizing those who facilitate or promote illegal gambling activities. These regulations are part of broader efforts to curb the expansion of unregulated iGaming operations.
Meanwhile, a Tokyo court sentenced a former bank manager to nine years in prison after convicting her of stealing nearly $2.6 million in gold and cash. This crime was linked to debts she accumulated through betting on horse racing and foreign currency trading, underscoring the severe consequences of unchecked gambling addiction.
