September 25, 2025 Results of the Solicitation for Public Comments on the “Guideline Related to Article 26 of the Information Distribution Platform Act” (Revised Draft) and Publication of the Revised Guidelines (Countermeasures Against Illegal Online Casinos)

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), based on the revision of the Basic Act on Measures Against Gambling Addiction, has decided to revise the “Guideline Related to Article 26 of the Information Distribution Platform Act” in order to strengthen countermeasures against illegal online casinos A revised draft was published for solicitation of public comments from Friday, July 18 to Thursday, July 31, 2025, and the MIC hereby announces the results of the solicited public comments as well as the revised guidelines.

Note: The published materials are available in Japanese only.

1. Background

　On June 18, 2025, the Act to Partially Amend the Basic Act on Measures Against Gambling Addiction (Act No. 76 of 2025) was enacted, and this amendment includes provisions such as criminalizing the act of disseminating information via the Internet that induces unspecified persons within Japan to participate in illegal online gambling.

　Based on this legal amendment, the MIC has decided to revise the “Guideline Related to Article 26 of the Information Distribution Platform Act” (hereinafter referred to as the “Illegal Information Guidelines”) in order to strengthen countermeasures against illegal online casinos, and public comments on this revised draft were solicited from Friday, July 18 to Thursday, July 31, 2025.

2. Results of the Solicitation for Public Comments

　Regarding the revised draft of the Illegal Information Guidelines, public comments were solicited from Friday, July 18 to Thursday, July 31, 2025, and no comments were submitted.

3. Revision and Publication of the Guidelines

Based on the results of the solicitation for public comments, the Illegal Information Guidelines have been revised and are hereby published.

*Necessary adjustments have also been made in light of the results of the solicitation for public comments regarding the draft revision of the “Hotline Operation Guidelines” (the operational guidelines of the Internet Hotline Center, commissioned by the National Police Agency), which are being revised in a similar manner.

　Based on the revision of the Illegal Information Guidelines, the MIC will encourage platform operators providing services such as social networking services to take appropriate action against illegal information distributed on such platforms, in accordance with their terms of service and other relevant rules.

4. How to Obtain Materials

　The materials will be available in the "Public Comments" section on the e-Gov website (https://www.e-gov.go.jp).