JO1 Member Shion Tsurubo Under Investigation For Illegal Gambling In Japan

Tokyo police are investigating boy band JO1 member Shion Tsurubo over illegal gambling on an online casino.

Tsurubo admitted the allegations, commenting, “I became obsessed with online gambling for a while because it’s so easy to access with a smartphone.”

Online casinos are illegal in Japan, but a recent police report estimated over 3 million people in the country engage in online casino gambling, spending ¥1.24 trillion ($8.4 billion) a year.

Tsurubo’s talent agency, Lapone Entertainment, announced on May 31 that he had used an online casino in the past. He was suspended from activities for 10 days.

JO1 debuted in 2020 and has sold millions of albums in Japan. The band has 11 members, including Tsurubo, but it is likely he will be kicked out of the group, given the allegations.

Other Japanese celebrities caught in gambling scandals

This week TV personality Kenta Yamamoto also issued a public apology over his use of online casinos. Yamamoto disappeared from screens on May 28 with network Fuji TV citing his gambling as cause for suspension.

Lawmakers have increased scrutiny on illegal gambling websites recently and a bill proposing stricter penalties passed the lower house earlier this month. Under the bill’s terms, violators may face fines up to ¥500,000 ($3500) or imprisonment for repeat offenders. Social media platforms have also been ordered to remove promotions for illegal gambling sites.

Japan targets individual gamblers as well as operators

Japan, unlike many countries, often targets individuals over illegal gambling rather than purely focusing on illegal operators. A man was arrested last month over allegations he gambled as much as ¥28 billion ($190 million) as well as encouraging others to sign up at illegal gambling sites through social media.

Adam Roarty

Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling. Adam focuses on emerging stories in the ever changing landscape of betting in the US. Read the latest on prediction markets, changing legislation, and sweepstakes.