Updated Article:
Online Gaming Leads to Potential 5-Year Imprisonment for Japanese Individual
Posted on: June 1, 2025, 10:51h.
Last updated on: June 1, 2025, 11:23h.
Makoto Chomabayashi: The Biggest Online Gambler Japan's Ever Seen, Facing a Hefty Penalty* Five years in prison on the table for Chomabayashi, due to gambling and affiliate activities* Chomabayashi's gambling spree amounts to an astounding $194 million
Tokyo-based Makoto Chomabayashi, a 38-year-old Fukushima Prefecture native, faces a substantial prison sentence of up to five years for engaging in online gambling - a prohibited act in Japan. Reported by the Asahi, Chomabayashi's gambling spree, lasting from August 2022 to present, totals a staggering 28 billion yen (approximately $194 million) - the largest sum wagered by an individual in the country's history.
A company worker with a habit for baccarat on the international casino site Stake, Chomabayashi found himself in deeper waters than he'd bargained for. Operating under Medium Rare N.V., the online casino bases its headquarters in the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, where it operates under a UK Gambling Commission license.
Alongside his gambling escapades, Chomabayashi was also acting as a "casino affiliate," advertising Stake in exchange for a 2% commission on bets placed by his followers. Police allege that he directed over 100 people to the casino, reaping about $48K in the process.
According to Japanese law, Chomabayashi faces a possible five-year imprisonment for the combined charges, with a maximum of three years for gambling alone. His sentence is expected to take mitigating factors, such as his cooperation and absence of a criminal record, into account.
Chomabayashi confessed to knowing that online gambling is illegal in Japan but insists that he didn't expect to get caught. Posting his victories on X (under the alias "Meikyoshisui," meaning "clear mirror, still water") only furthered his deception.
"With hundreds of thousands of players in Japan, I thought I was just the tip of the iceberg," the Asahi quotes Chomabayashi as saying.
The National Police Agency (NPA) survey indicates that 3.37 million Japanese citizens utilize online casinos, generating around $8 billion worth of bets annually. Surprisingly, up to 40% of users remain unaware that online gambling is banned in the country.
Realigning its strategies, the Japanese government cracks down harder on illegal gambling activities. Affiliate marketers and third-party payment processors now face stiffer punishments to combat the rise in online gambling cases. The NPA recorded 279 arrests for online casino activity in the previous year - a 160% increase compared to 2023.
Insights:
- Online gambling is strictly illegal in Japan, except for state-approved online betting on horse racing, cycling, motorboat racing, and lotteries. Private online casinos and related activities, including affiliate marketing and third-party payment processing, are punishable by law.
- Japan's legal framework for gambling is among the strictest in the world, with a focus on strict identity checks and anti-money laundering measures. However, offshore gambling operators, affiliates, and payment processors operating outside the legal framework are subject to crackdowns.
Source:* the Asahi
- Makoto Chomabayashi's case, involving online gambling and affiliate activities, has brought Japan's strict gambling laws to the forefront, with a potential prison sentence of five years on the table.
- Despite the illegal nature of online gambling in Japan, Makoto Chomabayashi's gambling spree has been recorded as the largest in the country's history,totaling an astounding $194 million.
- As a regular player on the international casino site Stake, Chomabayashi not only engaged in casino-and-gambling activities but also acted as a casino affiliate, directing over 100 individuals to the platform for a commission.
- While the casino operates in Curacao with a UK Gambling Commission license, Chomabayashi's actions have led to potential charges, with a focus on both his gambling activities and his role as a casino personality.
- Japanese authorities are paying special attention to gambling trends, particularly online gambling, and are taking steps to combat illegal activities by targeting affiliate marketers, third-party payment processors, and other involved parties, as demonstrated by the 160% increase in arrests from 2023 to the previous year.
- In general-news, it is important to note the importance of responsible-gambling practices, as many Japanese citizens may be uninformed about the illegal status of online casino-games, leading to potential crime-and-justice issues like Chomabayashi's case.
- As the case of Makoto Chomabayashi unfolds in the court of law, it serves as a reminder of the far-reaching implications of casino-culture, including its impact on individuals, the overall society, and the broader casino-and-gambling industry, whether in las-vegas or Japan.