Tokyo police raids illegal gambling operation
Tokyo Metropolitan Police has raided an illegal casino in the Kabukicho red-light district and arrested three people, including 39-year-old Masayuki Miwa, who’s suspected to have ties with criminal syndicate the Yamaguchi-gumi.
The casino reportedly provided baccarat games, as at least one baccarat table was confiscated during the raid.
Despite the state of emergency declared in the city due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the illegal gambling was in operation between March and October and earned at least JPY50m ($480,000).
Miwa is suspected to have helped organise and managed the illegal gambling, but all three suspects people denied all allegations. Miwa claimed he “did not participate at all.” The casino was said to operate on a members-only policy.
Illegal gambling is an issue in Japan. Earlier this year, police arrested 18 people suspected to belong to a gambling operation in Saitama Prefecture. Close to JPY12.25m ($114,285) in cash was confiscated.
Gambling is against the law in Japan, with the exception of pachinko parlors, betting on races, and lottery, while habitual gambling or organising illegal casinos can result in a prison sentence.
Over the years, the law has been amended in certain aspects, and now Japan is preparing to open Integrated Resorts (IR) in the future. However, the decision to welcome IRs into the country is a controversial one since millions of Japanese are suffering from gambling addiction.
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