Japanese boy band member referred to prosecutors over online gambling
Tokyo police have referred Shion Tsurubo, a 24-year-old member of the boy band JO1, to prosecutors on suspicion of illegal online gambling. According to a Japan Times report, the Metropolitan Police Department suspects Tsurubo of gambling on a foreign online casino site using his smartphone while in Japan between May and June last year.
Tsurubo is alleged to have accessed a site called K8 to play roulette. Investigators believe he deposited approximately ¥15 million ($103,560) into the site since December 2023 and lost around ¥7.1 million ($49,018). He reportedly ceased gambling around August after learning through media reports that such activity was illegal under Japanese law.
Strict enforcement and legal ramifications
According to local media reports, the police attached a recommendation for strict punishment in their submission to prosecutors, signalling a potential indictment. The case was uncovered during a broader investigation into the proceeds of a crime unrelated to the matter. Authorities interviewed Tsurubo earlier this year on a voluntary basis.
Under Japan’s Penal Code, unauthorised gambling, whether online or in person, is illegal, with violators facing fines of up to ¥500,000 ($3,452). In cases where a person operates or facilitates gambling operations, prison sentences ranging from three months to five years may apply.
Agency response and suspension
Following an internal investigation, Tsurubo’s agency, Lapone Entertainment, publicly confirmed his past gambling activity on 31 May. The agency said he was immediately suspended from his professional activities for 10 days.
Japan’s gambling laws and upcoming casino resort
Japan has historically maintained a strict stance against gambling, banning private-sector operations since 1907. Exceptions are made for public sports betting and lottery games classified as “momentary amusements.”
In 2018, the government passed the Act on the Development of Specified Integrated Resort Districts, permitting licensed casinos to operate within designated Integrated Resorts (IRs). These developments are required to include hotels, convention centres, and tourist facilities in addition to casinos. Only three IRs are allowed, with the first casino expected to open in Osaka by 2030.
Foreign visitors will have free access to these casinos, while Japanese nationals will need to pay an entry fee and face weekly and monthly visit limits. The policy aims to bolster tourism while curbing gambling addiction.
Online gambling remains illegal
Despite progress on land-based gambling legalisation, online gambling operated by foreign entities remains prohibited in the country. Individuals accessing such services from within Japan remain liable under domestic laws, regardless of the servers’ location.
