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06-07-2008 , 04:24 PM

chumofchance

journeyman

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 223

I guess it probably doesn't matter if it's not, but I'm gonna be in Tokyo for the next couple months and wanted to check... the little research I've done so far seems to indicate that gambling is not cool in Japan.

Thoughts?

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06-07-2008 , 05:43 PM

pattay

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 6,306

i would just call japan and ask him

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06-07-2008 , 06:38 PM

pozmanaught

adept

Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 988

There has been a law since 1999 that makes it legal to possess child porn in Japan. I dont think you are going to have a problem if you want to play a little online poker.

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06-08-2008 , 09:16 PM

JamesAt15

adept

Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 740

Chum, gambling is illegal in Japan and I believe that covers online gambling as well. However as poz hinted at, even if it is there is no enforcement against it.

You shouldn't see any problems connecting to your poker rooms from Japan and playing as normal. I heard some folks report that some of the European sites might block connections from Japan but I don't have any details. I've never had any issues, and I really doubt you will either.

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06-09-2008 , 01:01 AM

SirNeb

journeyman

Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 254

Do some research on "pachinko". Gambling is illegal, but these pachinko parlars are all over Japan. It IS gambling, but the exchange of money happens underground.

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06-09-2008 , 01:16 AM

AndyP

adept

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 864

You won't have much problem, especially if you are staying only for couple of months.

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06-09-2008 , 01:25 AM

bkkdude

banned

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,572

in singapore they hang you for illegal stuff....lol

dont knoe if on line gaming is considered stuff!

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06-09-2008 , 02:26 AM

loosekanen

USA#1, Oh Yeah!

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 27,836

Your only problem will be the possible blocking of the sites/clients by your service provider. I know here in Seoul a few months ago FTP was just plain blocked by order of the government so this is a logical question indeed.

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06-09-2008 , 08:52 AM

egordo877

grinder

Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 508

legal or not, I was able to play on both stars and ftp with no problems as of feb 2008.
you wont find any public live poker games, except for one in Akihabara where it's $20 SNGs, they have cosplay maids dealing and if you place they pay you in prizes and not money.

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06-09-2008 , 09:10 AM

#10

JamesAt15

adept

Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 740

There are a lot of the pub games, which are low buy-in tournaments that pay out in prizes or bar credit. So it's not just the maid casino. But no legal cash games or tourneys with cash prizes, except maybe in home games.

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09-16-2008 , 05:12 AM

#11

teteatot

newbie

Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 45

I'm planning a several month trip to Japan and just wanted to make sure about being able to play poker. I did some searching and found people saying it's not a problem, but since I've never seen a player location from Japan, I'm still kind of concerned. If some people who have been there within the last year could allay my fears, I'd be thankful.

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09-16-2008 , 05:14 AM

#12

Sniiii

old hand

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,533

I have no experience of playing from Japan, but from what I know, it's not banned there, and I've seen players from Japan on both Pokerstars and Full Tilt. I doubt it'll be a problem.

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09-16-2008 , 05:17 AM

#13

MrCasino

banned

Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 157

You won't have a problem logging into Pokerstars & Full Tilt etc bigger sites.

If you are on the smaller European sites, I know some ban connections from Japan for some reason.

Just be sure you email whatever poker site you play on and alert them you will be connected by a Japan IP address.

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09-16-2008 , 07:23 AM

#14

DonKaleone

journeyman

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 393

I've played with Japanese people on Everest Poker, if you want an European alternative.

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09-16-2008 , 07:57 AM

#15

Overdrive

old hand

Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,505

Unlike the United States, Japan is a free country. Play away.

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09-17-2008 , 02:35 PM

#16

Trankuility

His name was Lola

Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,885

I just came back from a vacation in Japan. I played at a Mangakisa (24hr net cafe/library/food/sleep type of place) while out there. Downloaded the software to the computer played for a few hours then uninstalled when I left. From the history in the computer it looked like people before me had done the same thing.

So if you're asking, can it be done...yes. If you want something more specific you'll need to clarify.

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09-17-2008 , 04:28 PM

#17

PokerLearner

enthusiast

Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 82

I played often when I lived out there and never had any problems. However, you should know that technically it is illegal there, although illegal in the sense that it is illegal to bathe during the winter in Indiana (my source for this is http://www.eldar.org/~ben/funny/html/180.html), i.e. technically the law, but never enforced.

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05-11-2009 , 01:29 PM

#18

Otm Shank11

journeyman

Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 281

I used to live there about 1.5 years back, thats when i was taking a break from poker and never tried to play online.

Gambling is def illegal in Japan, but does anyone know if I could still get onto Fulltilt?

I am hopping to move back there sometime in the not to distant future, i know i have seen people from S. Korea playing on Fulltilt...

any info would be great

thx

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05-11-2009 , 10:41 PM

#19

pigmalion

grinder

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 645

Yesterday there was a guy from Japan on a 10nl table on FT... (but i saw some others in the past)

was it you? did you make it?

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05-12-2009 , 12:37 AM

#20

madison79

grinder

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 583

I don't know about Japan but I know that this year later 08 Korea has blocked FTP poker site. I found few ways to get around it but Stars still works.