Tokyo’s Police Department has confirmed the arrest of a senior TV personality over allegations of illegal gambling.
In a move that underpins the country’s zero tolerance approach to the illegal gambling industry, Yoshitaka Suzuki, who is a senior planner at the Fuji TV Network, was arrested for consistently engaging with the Eldoah Casino on a mobile device. Under Japanese law, it is currently a criminal offence to use overseas sites to bet from within the country.
Fuji TV issued the following statement on the arrest: “We take the case seriously. We will fully cooperate with the investigation and work to prevent a recurrence of such cases.”
It continues elevated action against Japanese citizens engaging with offshore casinos in Japan, as the country’s Parliament introduced a a bill to eradicate advertising of the sector to its citizens.
Banner ads, affiliates and posts on social media will all be prohibited under the new legislation, which looks to provide a sweeping ban on advertisements or promotional content that directs Japanese users to overseas online casinos.
In addition, the establishment and operation of online casinos and related apps within Japan have also been outlawed.
Furthermore, revisions to the law are expected to enable internet service providers and social media platforms to more proactively target and remove promotional content.
The new rules form part of the Japanese Government’s renewed focus on tackling gambling addiction in the country.
In March, The Japan Times reported that the country was set to introduce a new framework for its gambling sector, with a central focus on taking action against affiliates that promote gambling.
In recent months, Japan has also asked a number of governments to block access to online casino websites for its citizens.
Authorities within Canada, Costa Rica, Georgia, Malta, Anjouan Island, Curacao, the Isle of Man and Gibraltar were all contacted by Japanese officials.
Most forms of online gambling are outlawed in Japan, and regulated activity is restricted to lotteries and betting on horse racing, motorcycle racing and power boat racing.
Despite this, it is estimated that 3.37 million people in Japan have engaged with illegal online casino gambling, with total wagers estimated to be ¥1.2 trillion (£6.2m) annually.
