World

Online Gambling in Japan

Published

4 years ago

June 3, 2020

Gambling in Japan has been making news over the last few years for several reasons. In 2019, there were reports that the impending arrival of international casinos would push gross gaming revenues per year to $8 billion. This would make Japan among the three largest casino markets in the world.

Already, the annual gambling revenue from Japan’s homegrown pachinko industry stands over $283 billion. These projections thus highlight the potential in the market for both players and investors.

While these g revenue numbers are impressive, the restrictive gambling laws have curtailed the industry from growing to its full potential. There are thousands of entertainment parlours spread across the country, but the casino industry has not managed to enjoy such growth.

But things are now changing with more players opting to play at offshore casinos. One of the earliest companies that went into the Japanese online casino market was manekinekocasino.com.

The Integrated Resort Promotion Law is expected to open up the casino industry. However, players need to understand the gambling framework in the country to enjoy a safe and secure gambling experience.

Japan’s Gambling Laws in Brief

To appreciate the hype around the new Integrated Resort Promotion Law, you have to understand how far the industry has come. The legal framework guiding gambling in Japan dates back to a law made in 1907.

Under Article 185 of the country’s Penal Code, gambling is banned in the country. This law also provides details on the penalties for activities where winning or losing is by chance. Gambling laws draw a fine line to differentiate legal games of ‘skill’ and illegal luck-based games.

While gambling is a centuries-old practice in the country, stringent laws made an appearance when the national lottery was banned in 1842. While it made a comeback after World War II, there was no change in the restrictive gambling laws.

The only legal online gambling platform here is the lottery, Toto which means online casinos can’t get licenses in the country. However, there are sports legalised under special laws, including bicycle racing, motorcycle racing, horse racing, and powerboat racing. These fall under local governments or Government Corporation.

Japanese Soccer Pools and the public lottery are also exempt from the list of prohibited gambling activities in the country.

Popular Forms of Gambling in Japan

The mention of gambling in Japan mostly refers to the wildly popular Pachinko offered in gambling halls. While these establishments don’t offer traditional casino games, they bring in millions of dollars every year. They are the most popular gambling activities across the country.

The Japanese government also allows limited legal gambling in sports betting on selected sports.

Online Gambling in Japan

Japan has an internet penetration of over 92%. It is one of the most digitised countries in the world yet, the prohibitive gambling laws have hindered the development of this industry. Luckily, players can still access their favourite casino games at offshore casinos and sportsbooks.

The biggest casino brands and sportsbooks now accept local players and even local currency. Foreign-based casinos have offered respite to the industry as more players now sign up and play freely. What’s more, the mobile casino and betting revolution has hit the country. Many people now bet and play at casinos on the go.

Over 50% of the Japanese internet users have a smartphone, and this makes it easy to download apps or play at instant mobile casinos. These mobile casinos are also considered illegal but players can sign up easily, deposit, and withdraw money.

However, it’s up to the players to research any casinos and apps before playing to avoid losing money or fraud. They have to check where the online casino is licensed, reputation, and availability of customer support and security features.

Future of Online Gambling in Japan

Without any way to control this online gambling trend, the government has indicated its willingness to legalise gambling. The Integrated Resort Promotion Law enacted in 2016, and 2018 eased restrictions on land-based casinos. It gave hope to the industry that the government could soon start licensing local online casinos and sportsbooks.

World

Creating Better Hiring Practices: How KENTECH Can Improve New Employees

Published

5 days ago

September 15, 2024

Rosario Farell

Although some may think background checks are only necessary for high-security jobs like government positions or teaching roles, most employers could benefit from the additional insights that a background check provides. In addition to providing information about an applicant’s criminal history, employers can use background checks to understand their abbreviated credit history or confirm information like employment, educational, and licensure history.

Why background checks are important

Unfortunately, while one would like always to assume the best, the truth is that not everyone is telling the truth. A study by SHRM found that 31% of people admitted to lying on resumes, while 56% admitted to “stretching the truth.”

This statistic makes it abundantly clear that business leaders must not feel comfortable simply trusting prospective employees’ applications at face value. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so a background check is used to confirm important information about an applicant and help make a better, more informed hiring decision.

At KENTECH, a leading background check technology provider, the team likes to say that they help their clients hire “not just the best person, but the right person.” After all, the cost of hiring and onboarding a new employee is extensive. Indeed reports that these costs can range from $4,000 to $20,000 per new employee.

If a hiring decision is made, only for that person to not perform well in the role and have to be let go shortly after, that’s a lot of money wasted. It’s better to make sure that you are making the right decision from the beginning.

KENTECH’s revolutionary background check technology

Some of KENTECH’s cutting-edge background check technology solutions include:

● Employment Verification Program (EVP): KENTECH’s Employment Verification Program is a web-based service designed to help streamline the background check process for employers. It gives employers one location through which they can manage the entire process from start to finish. Users can order background checks and verifications and easily manage documents — all from a single, convenient dashboard.

● Report Investigative Scoring Count (RISC): KENTECH’s RISC system helps organizations quickly interpret screening results at a glance. An organization can set up the criteria that matter most to them for screenings, and each background check will be labeled with a color code corresponding to the criteria set by the business. This provides employers with a visual cue for what applications may require closer scrutiny and helps identify which candidates may be most qualified.

● Rapid Application Center (RAC): KENTECH’s Rapid Application Center technology allows applicants to input their information and order background checks themselves. This saves hiring teams time with minimal burden to the applicant. An applicant signs onto a custom-built website and enters their information so administrative staff don’t have to. Administrators then receive email notifications when a candidate posts their information and when results are returned, allowing them to sign on at their convenience to view them.

● Unified Bulk Screening (UBS): For businesses that screen a high volume of candidates, KENTECH also offers a solution called Unified Bulk Screening (UBS). Once business leaders sign into their EVP account and import a list of candidates and their required information, they can see up-to-the-minute results in their portal or opt to receive a consolidated report that displays all results at once.

However, although the primary audience of these developments is the business and its leaders, there are also some significant benefits to the candidate experience. If a background check feels obstructive and frustrating to an applicant, they may form a negative first impression of the business or even give up. The KENTECH team designed their technology to be easy to use, often able to be integrated into the application and HR management system to make the process as seamless and intuitive as possible.

Although background checks might seem like an extreme step for the average employer, with the help of technology like that offered by KENTECH, it doesn’t have to be. KENTECH’s advanced background check technology helps streamline the process, allowing employers to get better insight into their prospective employees without significantly burdening themselves or their applicants. With this, background checks can become a standard, beneficial step in virtually every job application.