Photo/Illutration Online casinos such as Sportsbet.io are illegal in Japan. (Captured from the website)

In the latest crackdown on illegal online gambling, six comedians from the renowned Yoshimoto Kogyo talent agency have been referred to prosecutors for allegedly betting through virtual casinos.

All six men have admitted to the allegations, stating that they were not fully aware of the illegality of online casinos in Japan, according to the Metropolitan Police Department in Tokyo. 

The police sent the cases to prosecutors on April 3, recommending severe penalties.

According to police, the comedians used their smartphones and computers to access Sportsbet.io and other online platforms from around January 2023 until December 2024.

They reportedly gambled during work breaks or while traveling. Some became deeply addicted and ended up tens of millions of yen in debt.

“We sincerely apologize for the concern and inconvenience this has caused,” Yoshimoto Kogyo said in a statement. “We are fully cooperating with the investigation and will take steps to prevent a recurrence.”

The company is one of the largest entertainment agencies in Japan, known for its lineup of the country’s most popular comedians.

During police questioning, the comedians described their initial perception of online gambling as falling in a gray area and believed they would not face arrest.

One of the comedians, Dai Yoshimoto, explained that he was initially drawn to online casinos after watching videos of slot machine games in 2022, saying, "I’ve always been interested in gambling, so it seemed like fun."

Yoshimoto, 40, is part of the comedy duo Daitaku that made it to the finals of the 2024 M-1 Grand Prix, Japan's premier "manzai" comedy competition.

Yoshimoto allegedly sank 27 million yen ($184,000) into online casinos from 2022 until May 2024, losing more than 5 million yen in total. He acknowledged that he gradually realized he was involved in illegal activity.

40% UNAWARE

The case has shed light on the broader issue of illegal online gambling in Japan.

According to an estimate by the National Police Agency, 3.37 million people in Japan have engaged in online gambling, with the total annual amount wagered reaching 1.24 trillion yen.

Notably, 40 percent of online casino users surveyed by the NPA were unaware that playing on those gambling sites is prohibited in Japan.

More than half, or 55 percent, of users said they were drawn to online gambling out of curiosity. Meanwhile, 23 percent were influenced by celebrity endorsements, including advertisements featuring famous athletes and entertainers.

In response, the Cabinet approved an update to a government policy on gambling addiction in March.

The revision aims for a stronger crackdown on payment intermediaries and affiliate marketers who promote gambling sites on social media.

(This article was written by Natsuno Otahara and Shun Yoshimura.)

Related News