Tokyo police are investigating boy band JO1 member Shion Tsurubo over illegal gambling on an online casino.
Image: BREAKIFY Image: BREAKIFY
Tokyo police are investigating boy band JO1 member Shion Tsurubo over illegal gambling on an online casino.
Tsurubo admitted the allegations, commenting, “I became obsessed with online gambling for a while because it’s so easy to access with a smartphone.”
Online casinos are illegal in Japan, but a recent police report estimated over 3 million people in the country engage in online casino gambling, spending ¥1.24 trillion ($8.4 billion) a year.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Tsurubo had deposited a total of about ¥15 million ($104,000) to an online casino site since December 2023. He claims he stopped the activity upon realizing that it was illegal. In total, he is believed to have incurred a net loss of around ¥7 million ($48,000).
Tsurubo’s talent agency, Lapone Entertainment, announced on May 31 that he had used an online casino in the past. He was suspended from activities for 10 days.
Boy band members have strict rules about their behavior, and any wrongdoing usually leads to suspension or forced resignation. The police have asked for a “strict punishment” in their papers to prosecutors, requesting an indictment.
JO1 debuted in 2020 and has sold millions of albums in Japan. The band has 11 members, including Tsurubo, but it is likely he will be kicked out of the group, given the allegations.
Other Japanese celebrities caught in gambling scandals
This week TV personality Kenta Yamamoto also issued a public apology over his use of online casinos. Yamamoto disappeared from screens on May 28 with network Fuji TV citing his gambling as cause for suspension.
A network spokesperson commented, “It has come to light that one of our employees, Kenta Yamamoto, has used online casinos in the past. When suspicions arose, as a company, we made the decision to suspend him. We will continue to consult with the relevant agencies to confirm the facts. We will also take strict action in accordance with our employee regulations.”
Kuruma Takahira, a comedian, has also not been seen on TV since admitting he used online casinos back in February. Takahira admitted on his YouTube channel that “I used online casinos without realizing it is illegal to do so.”
Lawmakers have increased scrutiny on illegal gambling websites recently and a bill proposing stricter penalties passed the lower house earlier this month. Under the bill’s terms, violators may face fines up to ¥500,000 ($3500) or imprisonment for repeat offenders. Social media platforms have also been ordered to remove promotions for illegal gambling sites.
Japan targets individual gamblers as well as operators
Japan, unlike many countries, often targets individuals over illegal gambling rather than purely focusing on illegal operators. A man was arrested last month over allegations he gambled as much as ¥28 billion ($190 million) as well as encouraging others to sign up at illegal gambling sites through social media.
Makoto Chomabayashi believed he would not be prosecuted as online gambling is widespread in the country. He commented, “News reports said there were hundreds of thousands of players in Japan, so I thought I was only the tip of the iceberg.”
