Key Moments:
- Police arrested two individuals for managing a website that promoted and facilitated access to an overseas online casino.
- An estimated 670 users placed bets totaling around ¥70 billion, generating significant commissions for the site operators.
- The arrests marked the first enforcement action under Japan’s new online gambling advertising regulations, enacted in June 2025.
Initial Arrests in New Legal Landscape
Authorities in Japan have detained two suspects for allegedly running Onkaji Hissho, a website that steered Japanese users to an international online casino. This is the first instance where Japan has targeted a site marketing online casinos specifically to Japanese players, following the introduction of stringent online gambling laws in June 2025.
Scope and Operation of the Scheme
Investigators indicated that the platform lured approximately 670 users over four years by advertising “guaranteed wins.” Players were encouraged to place bets amounting to roughly ¥70 billion (€470 million). In exchange for directing this betting activity, the site operators earned sizeable commissions, based on total wagers instead of player losses, following an “affiliate agreement” established in 2021.
Details of the Investigation
The suspects are identified as Hisato Yonezawa, a 40-year-old executive from Osaka, and a second unnamed person. The accused also managed a paid Discord community, Onkaji Hissho Club, offering “winning strategies” for ¥10,000 (€67) per member, attracting around 300 participants. Official statements noted that registrants were provided step-by-step guidance to sign up at an online casino licensed in Curaçao. Authorities also found evidence of cryptocurrency transactions, including Bitcoin.
Strategic Marketing and Customer Acquisition
According to Gifu Prefectural Police, the defendants used sophisticated tactics and positioned their site as “completely different” from others. The platform aimed to build trust by claiming to offer exclusive, advantageous information rather than traditional affiliate incentives.
Japan’s Regulatory Shift and Market Data
The arrests followed the enforcement of enhanced regulations on September 25, 2025. These new rules prohibit advertising, new overseas casino launches targeting Japanese consumers, as well as celebrity endorsements and all forms of affiliate promotion. Social media companies and websites must also remove gambling advertisements upon government request.
Although online casinos operate legally in other countries, accessing such services from within Japan is illegal. Around 3.37 million Japanese individuals – primarily in their 20s and 30s – participate in online gambling, with annual bets totaling approximately ¥1.24 trillion (€8.3 billion). Official figures note 398 deaths connected to gambling debts, though advocacy groups estimate the true number may be higher.
Government Response and Ongoing Market Activity
Officials have stressed that the majority of profits from online casinos benefit operators, not participants. The government is conducting awareness campaigns to educate the public on the risks and potential legal consequences of online gambling, as well as related social impacts. In 2024, Japanese bettors wagered around ¥6.45 trillion (€43 billion) on overseas sports betting, prompting worries about match-fixing and the safety of athletes.
Table: Key Data Points from the Case
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Bets Facilitated | ¥70 billion (€470 million) |
| Website Users | Approximately 670 |
| Discord Club Members | Around 300 |
| Annual Online Gambling Bets (Japan) | ¥1.24 trillion (€8.3 billion) |
| Sports Bets on Overseas Sites (2024) | ¥6.45 trillion (€43 billion) |
| Gambling-Related Fatalities (Official) | 398 |
Domestic Alternatives and Future Developments
Despite current restrictions, regulated gambling remains available within Japan, encompassing horse racing, government sports betting, and pachinko. Plans for the MGM Osaka integrated resort are progressing, with an anticipated launch in 2030. Authorities continue efforts to balance economic growth in entertainment and tourism with stringent protections against gambling addiction, particularly among younger people.
- Author
Daniel Williams
