Japanese authorities have made their first arrests under newly enforced laws targeting the promotion of illegal online gambling, detaining two men accused of running an affiliate-style website that advertised and directed users to an overseas casino.
The arrests mark the first time police have acted against an advertising intermediary rather than operators themselves, highlighting how regulators are tightening enforcement in a country where online casinos remain illegal.
According to reports from The Japan News, the men - including a company executive from Osaka - are alleged to have managed the website Onkaji Hissho between early 2020 and late 2021.
The site promoted gambling tutorials, published "winning strategies" and directed users to a Curacao-based online casino. In return, the men reportedly received commissions in cryptocurrency under an affiliate contract, with police estimating that about 670 Japanese gamblers wagered around ¥70bn ($467m) through the site on games such as blackjack and slots.
Investigators said the website also ran a private Discord group, charging members ¥10,000 to access additional content, which included further betting tips.
Authorities argue that the two suspects misled users by suggesting that both operators and customers would profit when gamblers won.
Police are also searching for an Indian national believed to have orchestrated the overall scheme, while a separate investigation into possible money laundering has been launched.
The arrests come just one day after revisions to Japan's gambling laws came into effect on 25 September, following their passage through parliament in June. The amended law explicitly bans the advertising of online casinos - including through websites, apps and social media. It also prohibits the launch of new online casinos, even those designed as mobile applications, while tasking both national and local governments with raising public awareness about the risks of online gambling.
This crackdown reflects broader concerns about gambling addiction in Japan. A National Police Agency (NPA) survey earlier this year estimated that 3.37 million people in the country have gambled via online casinos, with nearly 60% in their 20s and 30s. The Government believes that approximately ¥1.24 trillion ($8.3bn) is wagered annually.
The accessibility of 24-hour gambling on smartphones has been cited as a key driver of addiction, with support groups warning of rising social harms - including crime linked to gambling-related financial distress.
The revised legislation is thus part of Japan's wider strategy to curb what officials have described as a growing social problem.
While the new legislation represents a significant step in Japan's anti-gambling efforts, critics of the Government's approach note that the revisions focus specifically on illegal online casinos, while other forms of gambling - such as horse racing and government-sanctioned sports betting - remain legal and popular.
Some campaigners also argue that international cooperation will be required to prevent offshore operators from targeting Japanese players, particularly given that many gambling platforms continue to operate in Japanese and accept payments from local users.
Regardless, Japan's gambling regulator has indicated that enforcement will not stop with the arrests this week, with further monitoring of online advertisements and payment service providers expected. Whether the revised law will succeed in curbing the growth of online gambling remains uncertain, but the crackdown on affiliate advertising is a clear signal that authorities intend to expand their focus beyond players and operators to the wider ecosystem that sustains illegal betting.
Japan's first integrated resort, MGM Osaka, is scheduled to be open in 2030. However, Japan's first casino was first talked about decades ago. It has been a long process and further delays would be unsurprising
