Police Investigate Japanese Celebrities over Mobile Gambling
Japanese police have begun targeting celebrities and sports personalities who access online casinos via their mobile devices.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:On February 15, Kuruma Takahira, a member of the popular comedy duo Reiwa Roman, publicly admitted to using an online casino on his YouTube channel. Tokyo police interrogated Kuruma Takahira and other comedians affiliated with Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., a leading talent agency in Japan.
Taisuke Yamaoka, a 29-year-old pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes, was also questioned by police for allegedly participating in an online poker tournament through an online casino. Additionally, Koki Niwa, a 30-year-old table tennis player, has been summarily indicted over his alleged involvement in online gaming activities.
As part of a broader effort to disrupt criminal financing, Japan's National Police Agency is targeting online casinos, both domestic and foreign.
However, many Japanese are unaware that the country outlaws online gambling, even when the platform is hosted outside the country.
In 2024, the NPA detained 279 people for online gaming-related offenses, marking a 161% rise from the 107 detentions made in the previous year. Rising smartphone usage for online casino access and stepped-up police efforts have been attributed as the reasons for the increase in detentions.
Due to the difficulties in obtaining evidence from online casino operators based in countries where the activity is legal, police target Japanese businesses that process payments on behalf of these operators.
More Regulation News
Online Casino Use on the Rise in Japan
A recent survey conducted by the Tokyo-based International Casino Research Institute between August and September last year revealed that 2.8% of the 6,000 respondents in Japan had visited an online casino in the past 12 months. This represents an increase of 1.2 percentage points from 2021. Also, the majority of online casino users fall under the age of 40.
A gambling addiction support group has also reported a sharp rise in consultations from family members worried about a relative's online casino habits.
In 2019, the Society Concerned about Gambling Addiction recorded eight inquiries about online casinos. However, in 2021, the figure skyrocketed to 91.
The organization also uncovered 110 online casinos offering Japanese-language support, some of which employ celebrity endorsements to promote their platforms.
The group urged the authorities in Japan to introduce stronger gambling regulations and more preventative measures in the country.
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