Individual apprehended in Japan for online gambling expenditure exceeding $600,000
Gambling the equivalent of $625,500 on an online casino platform has landed 38-year-old Makoto Chomabayashi in hot water with the Japanese authorities. Chomabayashi, who authorities believe could be Japan's biggest online gambler ever, is accused of spending a staggering 28 billion yen, or around $194 million, over years.
The authorities apprehended Chomabayashi for participating in casino games, not for hosting or organizing them. He is the latest individual to be held accountable for gambling with illegal operators. Previously, a gang of popular comedians were targeted in a similar police operation.
Chomabayashi confessed to his gambling activities and reportedly played baccarat on a global online casino website. His activity was traced back to August 2022, and he was finally caught in April 2025. Japanese police, known for their high rate of securing confessions from suspects, have already extracted admissions from Chomabayashi.
However, the 90 million yen he's charged with is likely just a fraction of his total gambling expenditure. Investigators suspect he may have spent far more, possibly up to 28 billion yen. This would set a new record for individual online gambling activity in Japan.
It's believed that Chomabayashi was attracted to the casino environment, particularly after a big win, which provided him with a sense of recognition. Despite his involvement in illegal activities, there's no evidence linking him to other illicit activities, suggesting he funded his gambling endeavors from his own, lawfully obtained funds.
Gambling remains illegal in Japan, and the authorities believe that as many as 3.37 million people are gambling in the country each year, spending over 1.24 trillion yen on the activity.
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[1] Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: "Online Gambling Case Involving Large Sums of Money - Makoto Chomabayashi"[2] Yomiuri Shimbun: "Record Online Gambling Case: Over 28 Billion Yen Wagered"[3] Factiva: "Japan's Record Online Gambling Case: Over 28 Billion Yen Wagered"[4] BBC News: "Japanese Man Accused of Gambling $194 Million Online"[5] NHK World: "Japan's Largest Online Gambling Case Unearths Alleged $194 Million Wager"
- The recent online gambling case involving Makoto Chomabayashi, who allegedly spent approximately 28 billion yen, is being known as casino-games-related crime and is making headlines in general-news outlets.
- Chomabayashi, whose gambling spending reportedly exceeds $194 million, stands accused of participating in casino games on an online platform, which amounts to illegal activities in Japan.
- Despite the serious nature of the crime, reports suggest that Makoto Chomabayashi's gambling activities were funded from his own, lawfully obtained income, and there's no evidence linking him to other crime-and-justice issues.
- As the largest online gambling case in Japan, Chomabayashi's activities have raised concern about the extensive participation in casino games and the need for responsible-gambling education among Japanese citizens.
