Japan makes first arrest over online casino advertising platform
Law prohibiting online gambling advertisements has come into effect with two men arrested for entering affiliate-style agreement with Curacao-based site.
Key Points:
– Legal restrictions passed in June enforced from 25 September onwards
– Two men allegedly facilitated illegal bets totalling ¥70bn ($472m) via overseas casino
– Japan’s first crackdown targeting an affiliate website advertising online casinos
Japanese police have arrested two individuals accused of promoting and profiting from an overseas online casino by directing local gamblers through a website called Onkaji Hissho, as reported by The Japan News. The case is the first instance in Japan of a crackdown on an advertising platform rather than the operators themselves, and it follows the enforcement of new laws from 25 September.
Gambling is illegal in Japan with increasing exceptions over the years, and law enforcement will now be able to issue reprisals for advertising gambling online, including social media. Starting a new online casino is also now explicitly outlawed.
Authorities say the two arrested suspects, including a company executive from Osaka, operated the website between early 2020 and late 2021. During this period, they allegedly received commissions from a Curacao-based online casino by directing users to register, play games and place bets using cryptocurrency.
The defendants reportedly earned rewards under an affiliate contract where payments were based on the total value of bets placed by users referred from their website. Police estimate that roughly 670 gamblers transferred crypto worth about ¥70bn into casino accounts for games such as slots and blackjack.
To build credibility and attract more users, the site hosted gambling tutorials and advertised “winning strategies.” The operators even created a private group on Discord, charging members ¥10,000 to access additional tips.
Good to know: Cryptocurrency use in gambling remains under scrutiny in Japan, and while some offshore platforms claim legal status abroad, local promotion to Japanese residents is still illegal
According to officials, the suspects promised that both they and their users would profit when customers won, which investigators said was misleading. One senior officer warned that even when online casinos are legally operated overseas, those who promote them within Japan would be subject to legal action.
Authorities are continuing investigations and are searching for an Indian national believed to be the primary organiser behind the operation. A separate probe into potential money laundering has also been launched.
Gambling Insider delivers the latest industry news, in-depth features, and operator reviews that you can trust. Our team combines rigorous editorial standards with decades of specialized expertise to ensure accuracy and fairness. We are committed to delivering clear, impartial, and dependable coverage across the global gambling sector.
