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Japanese council estimates illegal sports bets reached ¥6.5tn in 2025

Regulation

The Sports Ecosystem Promotion Council estimated that bettors in Japan wagered ¥6.5tn on illegal sports betting in 2025, according to a television investigation. The report said traffic from Japan to some overseas gambling sites had risen sharply, with visitor numbers in some cases about 10 times those recorded in July 2024. Japan is finalising a law that will introduce jail sentences for habitual reoffenders, the report said.

The estimate and proposed penalties are relevant to enforcement priorities for illegal betting in Japan.

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BGC estimates up to £10m in illegal bets at Epsom Derby Festival

The Betting and Gaming Council estimated that up to £10m would be wagered with unlicensed bookmakers over the two days of the Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom, including about £5m on the Derby itself. BGC chief executive Grainne Hurst said the priority should be keeping customers in the regulated market and argued that policies weakening licensed operators' competitiveness could benefit illegal betting.

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