Tokyo Police Dismantle Illegal Poker Operation Linked to Organised Crime
The business was believed to be taking 10% commission from each hand, capped at 4,000 yen per game.
Authorities in Tokyo have uncovered an illegal poker ring operating from a luxury Shinjuku high-rise, arresting 14 individuals amid links to potential yakuza funding and a three-month revenue of 46 million yen ($283 million).
According to local reporting, Tokyo Metropolitan Police broke up an alleged illegal poker operation run from a luxury high-rise apartment in Shinjuku, arresting 14 people in a case that investigators say may also be linked to organised crime funding.
The arrests included the suspected operator, the on-site manager, five other staff members and seven customers caught at the scene.
Site generated 46 million yen in 3 months
Police raided the apartment on July 3 and said the venue had been running since around April. Investigators believe the business was taking a 10% commission from each hand, capped at 4,000 yen per game, and that the site had generated about 46 million yen in roughly three months.
The suspected owner was identified as 49-year-old Yuji Sakugawa, a self-employed man from Fujisawa in Kanagawa Prefecture, while the manager was named as 40-year-old Masashi Takahashi, who has no fixed address. All 14 suspects have admitted the allegations.
Authorities are now examining whether part of the proceeds was being channelled to yakuza groups, a reminder of how illegal gambling venues can feed broader criminal networks.
This comes as Macau suspected a proxy betting after detaining two mainland Chinese men in separate casino incidents over the weekend. One suspect allegedly used a concealed phone setup in his shirt to livestream baccarat play, while police said he claimed he was only “testing” the equipment.
