Kyoto Police Arrest Online Casino Operators

Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Kyoto Prefectural Police and other authorities announced the arrest of seven individuals last month, including 36-year-old Randall Aaron Asher, an American national, for operating an illegal online casino site. It marked the first arrest of online casino site operators in Japan.

The group is suspected of running a mahjong website called Dora Mahjong targeting Japanese players.

Established around 2011, the site boasted over 70,000 members and claimed that its operation was legal due to being an overseas online gaming entity. The company allegedly collected approximately 10-15% of the customers’ profits as venue fees, amassing about ¥2.3 billion (US$15 million).

While the site argued for its legality based on its overseas status, the National Police Agency emphasized that even if online casinos are legal in their place of operation, it is illegal to connect and gamble from within Japan, and that such activities are subject to prosecution.

Authorities noted that it is challenging to prosecute overseas-based operators under Japan’s gambling laws, and despite the illegality, enforcement is difficult. But recent actions such as the Metropolitan Police Department’s crackdown on gamblers last year indicate a heightened effort to address such issues.

Asher, believed to be a key figure in the operation, and three others have admitted to the charges, while the remaining four have partially denied them. Investigations are ongoing, including into the network’s list of customers.

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