With two men arrested for entering affiliate-style deal with Curacao-based site, law prohibiting online gambling advertisements has come into effect.
Japanese police have arrested two individuals, according to The Japan News. They are accused of promoting and profiting from an overseas online casino. The suspects allegedly directed local gamblers through a website called Onkaji Hissho. The case is the first instance in Japan of a crackdown on an advertising platform instead of the operators themselves. It follows the enforcement of new laws from September 25.
In Japan, gambling is illegal, though exceptions have increased over the years. Law enforcement can now take action against online gambling advertising. These includes social media. The law now explicitly outlaws starting a new online casino.
According to authorities, two suspects, including a company executive from Osaka, operated the website from early 2020 to late 2021. During this period, they allegedly earned 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 ¥70 billion into casino accounts for games like slots and blackjack.
The site hosted gambling tutorials and advertised winning strategies to build credibility and attract more users. Charging members ¥10,000 to access more tips, the operators even made a private group on Discord.
Officials state that the suspects promised that customers would profit when they won. They also claimed that the suspects themselves would benefit. Investigators said these claims were misleading. One senior officer warned that even if online casinos operate legally overseas, anyone promoting them within Japan faces legal action.
Authorities are continuing investigations and are searching for an Indian national believed to be the primary organizer behind the operation. Authorities have also launched a separate probe into potential money laundering.
