The Japanese government is actively promoting the development of gambling risk behavior detection tools, aimed at identifying players facing potential harm and providing timely protection. According to the royal decree issued on March 14, gambling operators must establish corresponding mechanisms and agreements within the next two years to monitor and intervene in players' high-risk behaviors.
This mechanism will be based on various behavioral markers and activity patterns to identify and analyze users, striving to effectively screen and categorize at-risk populations, ensuring that monitoring standards among different operators remain consistent. This move responds to the legal mandate to prioritize the protection of vulnerable groups and high-risk participants.
Japan is not the first country to undertake such a program. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia had already released a study on high-risk gambling behaviors, identifying five key behavioral characteristics: participation intensity, loss of control, increasing gambling frequency, operator behavior, and game feature characteristics. The study specifically pointed out that because problematic consumption often fluctuates, relying on "average values" for assessment has limited effects, and what really needs attention are extreme behavior patterns.
It is noteworthy that according to the full-year report of the Spanish gambling regulatory authority (DGOJ) for 2024, the number of active players in the country increased by 21.6% year-on-year, approaching 2 million people, highlighting the urgency and importance of enhancing player protection.
Currently, the Japanese government has opened a preliminary proposal for this mechanism to public consultation, allowing any natural person or legal entity to submit suggestions or opinions by September 25, 2025. This open consultation process demonstrates the government's emphasis on public participation in the policy-making process.
