Gambling through offshore online casinos has been declared a crime in Japan.

The country’s National Police Agency issued a stern warning through the media this week. It stated: “Even if an online casino is operated legally overseas, connecting from within Japan and then gambling on the site is illegal.

“There is precedence of arresting online casino users for gambling-related crimes. Gambling is a crime.”

In Japan the penalty for crimes related to gambling can lead to a maximum fine of the equivalent of $3,300 or up to three years in jail. The police had made 18 arrests under the regulations in 2020 and 16 last year.