Japan Arrests 9 People Tied to $629M Gambling Ring

Nine people in Japan have been arrested by police forces following an investigation into a massive gambling operation, which may have processed as much as $628.5 million in illicit gambling proceeds, or a total of 90 billion yen.

Japan Cracks Down on Illegal Gambling, Targets $628.5M Ring

The group of people arrested is alleged to have placed the wagers on behalf of 3,600 customers at an unspecified number of online casinos abroad. The amount was also allegedly wagered in the space of just a month.

This is the latest high-profile case that specifically shows police authorities targeting gambling operations involving both organizers and people who gamble, i.e., regular people. Although most jurisdictions outlaw participation in illegal gambling, few follow through to hold customers liable.

Just recently, Japan arrested what is supposedly the biggest online gambler in the history of the country. The man had gambled approximately 90 million yen, or around $625,500. This comes at a time when the Japanese lower house moved forward with plans to pass new measures that target illegal online casinos and empower authorities to do more.

Effectively, Japan wants to hold anyone who has breached gambling laws liable. Whether they have simply placed a wager recreationally or organized the whole thing, Japan is seeing little difference moving forward, targeting both as equally guilty. This also happened to several prominent personalities in Japanese society, including athletes and comedians.

Illegal Gambling Makes Both Business and Customer Guilty

Although $628.5 million was supposedly deposited in a single month, the money was then managed by the group for up to 12 months, ending in the summer of 2024. Local reports have explained that the money was often converted into special casino points, which enabled people to gamble, and the nine people arrested were responsible for facilitating this unique payment system.

It is not clear if all of the nine arrested people are to blame or if they have admitted guilt in the case.