Inside Asian Gaming

IAG APR 2021年4月 亞博匯 90 JAPAN Last year Neo Sports joined with Yomiuri Shimbun to set up Inning King, a fantasy sports option for Yomiuri Giants games. Meanwhile, Jungle X, the only Japanese company to obtain a betting license in the UK, started the 3x3. EXE PREMIER powered by INNOVATION LEAGUE tournament under the Japan Sports Agency on 14 March. Just as fantasy sports have helped boost viewership and connectivity between fans and the sports they follow globally, they could also serve as a means of blowing fresh air into Japan’s own sports industry. ACADEMIC RECOGNITION As an expert in sports betting, Osaka University of Commerce President Ichiro Tanioka comments, “It’s hard to tell how long it would take with the speed of Japan’s legal system. However, I believe the pandemic will mark a turning point. “Government-controlled competitive sports, such as the JRA (Japan Racing Association) increased sales with the full implementation of online betting. On the other hand, illegal gambling has also increased as have crackdowns [on illegal activities]. The trend throughout the world is to control gambling, rather than restrict it.” Asked specifically about the potential introduction of sports betting into Japan, Tanioka responded, “In Japan’s case, the only option may be to rely on IR operators. It will probably start in the form of contests at sporting events. If it really is to be implemented, baseball would be best. When games are weekly or daily, there is a lot to think about, but perhaps live betting, where you have to decide in an instant what will happen next, is more suitable to these times. “In any case, 53% of the world’s bets are related to sports like baseball and soccer. Sooner or later it will be necessary in Japan as well.”