Scandal in Japan: 9 police officers arrested for illegal gambling
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1 Jan 2026 •
Reading time: 3 minutes Nine police officers stationed in Hyogo Prefecture have been officially named as suspects in an investigation into illegal online gambling, a practice strictly prohibited by the Japanese Penal Code.
Internal scandal revealed
Late last year, the Hyogo Prefectural Police Inspection Department uncovered irregularities involving nine male officers, mainly in their twenties and thirties. All were accused of participating in online casino gambling sessions outside of their working hours — a serious offence in a country where most forms of gambling remain strictly prohibited by law.
Six of the accused worked at the same police station. One of the officers, a senior officer in his twenties, allegedly accessed casino sites via his smartphone between December of the previous year and June of this year, placing more than 3,000 bets and spending approximately 5 million yen (about 27,000 euros). He was allegedly introduced to these platforms by a colleague who is also a police officer.
The list of suspects also includes another senior officer in his thirties assigned to the criminal investigation bureau at headquarters in Kobe, the prefecture’s capital, as well as an inspector in his forties working at headquarters.
Reactions and disciplinary sanctions
Faced with these revelations, the Hyogo police did not remain silent. In addition to referring the cases to the public prosecutor’s office for criminal prosecution, the institution imposed internal disciplinary measures. These included suspensions of up to six months for some officers. Even senior officers were punished for failing in their supervisory duties.
Koichi Tsuchiyama, head of the inspection department, commented on the situation, emphasising the need to intensify training in professional ethics at all levels of the Japanese police force. He acknowledges that the high number of officers sanctioned for various forms of inappropriate behaviour is a major concern that requires a clear institutional response.
The Japanese legal framework
To understand the seriousness of these charges, it is necessary to place the facts in the context of Japanese law. The country is known for its restrictive gambling policy: most forms of betting are prohibited under Chapter 23 of the Penal Code, although there are some exceptions for specific activities such as horse racing and certain motor sports, which are regulated by special laws.
Pachinko, an iconic game that is very popular in Japan, occupies a legal grey area: although it is not officially considered gambling under the law, it indirectly allows tokens to be exchanged for money, fuelling a giant industry often associated with leisure activities.
On the other hand, online casinos, even when hosted abroad, remain illegal for Japanese citizens. The Japanese authorities consider these platforms to be violations of the legal framework, exposing players and operators to prosecution.
A turning point for the Japanese police?
As the investigation continues and legal proceedings are ongoing, the consequences for the accused police officers remain severe, both professionally and personally. For Japan, a country committed to order, the law and the reputation of its institutions, this case could become a turning point in the way internal offences are handled and deviant behaviour is prevented among those responsible for protecting society.