Playing online from Japan

[NesOne]

Does anyone here play poker online from Japan, particularly on PartyPoker?

I will be opening up a bank account in Japan in a few days and was wondering if there's anything particular I should know about. Are we able to deposit money directly from a Japanese bank account onto PartyPoker or other sites?

Thanks.

[cardshark]

I don't know the answer to your specific inquiry. However, in Japan gambling is illegal. This is why you will not find any legitimate casinos there (only pachinko game centers and OTB). But, although gambling is officially illegal in Japan, the pachinko joints are actually casinos. They've figured out loopholes to enable people to gamble for real cash, while they are seemingly just playing pachinko to win teddy bears with blinking lights.

This being said, I would imagine that passionate gamblers in Japan have also figured out a way around online gambling. Best thing to do (I imagine) would be to talk to some of the Japanese gamblers in Japan. It's impossible to talk to them while they are absorbed in their pachinko games, but if you get up early in the morning you will see lines of people in front of the pachinko joints waiting for the joints to open. They get up early and stand in line (redefining the meaning of addictive gambling). While they wait in line they have nothing to do. Perhaps you can talk to them.

Just an idea.

[bkkdude]

hopr you speek japanese.

tell us what you need to open bank account in japan.

[cardshark]

I speak Japanese very little. Just enough to get by, in Japan.

I've never opened a bank account in Japan, so I don't know the exact procedure. My guess would be that one would just go to a bank and ask to open an account.

Finally, I re-read my post and thought I should clear up any potential misunderstandings (I do not know why there is no "edit" button available).

I am not in any way advising you to break the laws in Japan. If there is a legal way to do what you want to do, then I guess it's OK, since Japanese authorities don't seem to give a hoo about people actually gambling in pachinko parlors. However, if you cannot satisfy the legal requirement you should definitely not break the law in Japan. Japanese people are very polite, and if you are questioned by the authorities you will be treated respectfully. But they will not go easy on you. If you break the law in Japan you will be deported and will not be able to return.

[Pontuan21]

1. Open a Japanese bank account.
2. Open a Neteller Japan account.
3. Deposit funds on various gaming sites.
4. ???
5. Profit.

[JamesAt15]

Nes, I play online from Japan, sometimes on Party. It's straightforward. Deposits via Neteller have never given me a problem. I haven't tried deposits or withdrawls directly to a bank account, so can't comment on that.

Gambling is illegal in Japan (aside from the various exceptions like pachinko, horse racing, lottery, etc.) but there's nothing preventing you from playing online poker or casinos. As far as I know, no one has made any issues about the legality of online gambling here - it feels probably much like a couple years ago in the States.

[Kuso]

opening a bank account in japan is easy (if you're legal).

the most important thing you'll need is your alien registration card.

assuming you have that, you can go to your bank and open an account. most of the major banks will usually have someone who will LOVE to try to talk to you in english. furthermore, many of the forms are bilingual these days.

if you're in a big city like tokyo or osaka (and others), you might want to try to get a citibank account.


as for efts (bank transfers), i never did one from a hapanese bank. i would guess that it would be easier from an "international bank" like citibank rather than one of the prefectural banks.

i have absolutely no idea whether they might pull an ad hoc uigea on you, so be careful.

as far as playing online in japan... it really doesn't seem to me that the government cares less. there is a TON of gambling going on in japan that is illegal. they only seem to care if you blatantly violate the law (e.g., promote a live cash game).

[NFuego20]

[ QUOTE ]
1. Open a Japanese bank account.
2. Open a Neteller Japan account.
3. Deposit funds on various gaming sites.
4. ???
5. Profit.

[/ QUOTE ]