Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA) has launched its first-ever investigation into offshore online casinos, responding to the growing popularity of illegal online gambling among the country’s youth.

The investigation will target offshore online casino operators catering to Japanese users, a trend that has led to debt and involvement in illegal activities among younger people, reports The Japan News. The NPA plans to share its findings with relevant ministries and agencies, aiming to regulate access to these sites and address gambling addiction concerns.

Online gambling, while legally operated in some foreign jurisdictions, remains illegal in Japan. Despite this, many Japanese users mistakenly believe that accessing these offshore platforms is lawful, fueling their growing popularity.

A survey conducted by Tokyo-based digital analysis firm Similarweb Ltd. showed that monthly visits to online casinos jumped from 700,000 in December 2018 to 83 million in September 2021. The NPA reported that 107 individuals used illegal online casinos last year, with 32 accessing these sites via smartphones. Authorities suspect these figures represent only a fraction of the total number of users.

The NPA plans to conduct a comprehensive survey of more than 7,000 people across various age groups, from teenagers to those in their 70s, and will release a report on online casino usage by the end of the fiscal year.

Japan has a complex relationship with gambling. While certain forms of gambling, such as horse racing, are legal, most other forms, including online betting, are prohibited. Last year, the country approved its first land-based casino, with MGM Osaka expected to open by 2030. Local gambling activities like pachinko have long been popular in Japan.