Polymarket has appointed a dedicated representative in Japan to obtain government clearance for the platform, launching a long campaign against some of the world’s most restrictive gambling laws.
The company is targeting official approval by 2030. The effort is being led by Mike Edlin, a cryptocurrency industry veteran who previously ran the Japan operations of decentralized exchanges Jupiter and Bloomberg. Reports.
Mike Edlin, Head of Japan at Jupiter. Source: LinkedIn
From challenge to dialogue
This move reflects a tangible change in how Polymarket deals with new markets. The default position was to act first, negotiate later.
In India, Polymarket and Kalshi continue to onboard users Despite the federal ban under PROGA And explicit warnings from the Ministry of Technology. In the United States and Brazilthe platforms were based on litigation Defending their classification as financial derivatives After facing blocs and regulatory pressures.
Japan is different. Polymarket is building a regulatory foothold before attempting a commercial launch — a bet that working through official channels will ultimately prove faster than fighting in court after the fact.
Legal terrain
Japan’s penal code stipulates a prison sentence of up to five years for gambling operators, and the government’s tolerance for new betting products has begun to shrink.
In 2025, Japan passed legislation against online casinos that gave authorities broad powers to ban foreign sites and make betting on offshore platforms a criminal offense.
The 2026 national budget follows this trend, increasing funding for the Casino Management Commission by 5.4% and allocating new funds to the digital agency to build surveillance infrastructure for online gambling.
The pachinko industry, worth nearly $100 billion, operates through an elaborate legal workaround, and the government allows specific exceptions such as horse racing. But those exceptions reflect decades of well-established political relations. Polymarket It will be built from scratch.
2030 accounts
The target date is not arbitrary. Japan’s first full-fledged casino resort, MGM Osaka, is scheduled to open in 2030. Polymarket appears to be positioning itself as part of the broader opening up of Japan’s regulated gambling sector rather than a foreign operator trying to get a foot in the door.
“We are always evaluating opportunities to expand reach globally in ways that are compatible and locally appropriate,” a company spokesperson said, noting the “meaningful organic interest” already coming from Asia.
Prediction market platforms are used to go first and negotiate later. Polymarket does the opposite in Japan. If this approach succeeds, it could become a model for every captive market.
Polymarket has appointed a dedicated representative in Japan to obtain government clearance for the platform, launching a long campaign against some of the world’s most restrictive gambling laws.
The company is targeting official approval by 2030. The effort is being led by Mike Edlin, a cryptocurrency industry veteran who previously ran the Japan operations of decentralized exchanges Jupiter and Bloomberg. Reports.
Mike Edlin, Head of Japan at Jupiter. Source: LinkedIn
From challenge to dialogue
This move reflects a tangible change in how Polymarket deals with new markets. The default position was to act first, negotiate later.
In India, Polymarket and Kalshi continue to onboard users Despite the federal ban under PROGA And explicit warnings from the Ministry of Technology. In the United States and Brazilthe platforms were based on litigation Defending their classification as financial derivatives After facing blocs and regulatory pressures.
Japan is different. Polymarket is building a regulatory foothold before attempting a commercial launch — a bet that working through official channels will ultimately prove faster than fighting in court after the fact.
Legal terrain
Japan’s penal code stipulates a prison sentence of up to five years for gambling operators, and the government’s tolerance for new betting products has begun to shrink.
In 2025, Japan passed legislation against online casinos that gave authorities broad powers to ban foreign sites and make betting on offshore platforms a criminal offense.
The 2026 national budget follows this trend, increasing funding for the Casino Management Commission by 5.4% and allocating new funds to the digital agency to build surveillance infrastructure for online gambling.
The pachinko industry, worth nearly $100 billion, operates through an elaborate legal workaround, and the government allows specific exceptions such as horse racing. But those exceptions reflect decades of well-established political relations. Polymarket It will be built from scratch.
2030 accounts
The target date is not arbitrary. Japan’s first full-fledged casino resort, MGM Osaka, is scheduled to open in 2030. Polymarket appears to be positioning itself as part of the broader opening up of Japan’s regulated gambling sector rather than a foreign operator trying to get a foot in the door.
“We are always evaluating opportunities to expand reach globally in ways that are compatible and locally appropriate,” a company spokesperson said, noting the “meaningful organic interest” already coming from Asia.
Prediction market platforms are used to go first and negotiate later. Polymarket does the opposite in Japan. If this approach succeeds, it could become a model for every captive market.
