Six Japanese comedians are currently under investigation after participating in illegal gambling. Online casinos are illegal in the country, with most forms of gambling also illegal.
The six comedians, represented by Yoshimoto Kogyo, one of Japan’s largest talent agencies, have said that they weren’t aware of the illegal nature in the country. According to reports, some have become in debt up to tens of millions and even borrowed money from their agency to fund their addiction.
It’s estimated that one comedian put as much as 51 million yen ($348,203) into different games. Japanese police have since proceeded to seek out punishment, with prosecutors sent information.
Yoshimoto Kogyo put out a statement saying: “We sincerely apologize for the concern and inconvenience this has caused.
“We are fully cooperating with the investigation and will take steps to prevent a recurrence.”
Those involved in the investigation have paused all activities until a solution is reached.
The comedians involved include Dai Yoshimoto, who is part of the duo Daitaku. He was involved in the finals of 2024’s M-1 Grand Prix, a comedy competition. He allegedly gambled 27 million yen ($184,000).
In another statement, Yoshimoto said that he was “always interested in gambling” and only took part because “it seemed like fun.”
Japan’s gambling habits
Gambling in Japan is done through what are, effectively, legal loopholes. Pachinko and slots are common, with entire halls dedicated to them. Betting on sports is only allowed if it is a publicly hosted race. This includes horse, bike, powerboat, and asphalt motorbike racing.
Despite regulations and laws, online gambling has managed to invade the country in some capacity. Law enforcement estimates that there is 1.2 trillion yen is spent on illegal gambling each year. Surveys carried out by the National Police Agency found that 40% of Japanese citizens are simply unaware of the illegal status of online casinos, as they’re quite easily accessible.
