Hyogo Police Referred Over Illegal Online Casino Use

Police authorities in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture have referred nine serving officers to public prosecutors over allegations linked to illegal online casino gambling. The disciplinary action follows an internal investigation that found the officers had accessed prohibited gambling platforms during their personal time, in breach of police conduct standards.

On Monday, the Hyogo Prefectural Police imposed sanctions that included fines and six-month suspensions for the nine officers involved. Although the activity took place outside working hours, officials said the conduct violated ethical obligations expected of law enforcement personnel.

Details of the Gambling Activity

Investigators determined that the officers used personal devices, including smartphones, to access overseas online casino websites. Six of the nine officers were members of the same police unit, suggesting the activity had spread within a specific group.

According to investigative findings, one officer in his 20s repeatedly accessed the same gambling site between December and June. During that period, he reportedly placed more than 3,000 bets, accumulating losses exceeding ¥5 million. Authorities indicated that he was introduced to the platform by another officer of a similar age.

The remaining three officers served in separate divisions. Among them was a senior officer in his 30s assigned to the criminal investigation bureau at police headquarters in Kobe, highlighting that personnel in investigative roles were also involved in the prohibited conduct.

Broader Disciplinary Measures

In a separate but related matter, the Hyogo police also disciplined nine additional male officers for misconduct committed during working hours. One case involved an inspector in his 40s at headquarters who was found to have consumed alcohol and played pachinko while on duty.

As part of the disciplinary response, immediate supervisors received penalties that included six-month suspensions, reflecting the department’s decision to hold leadership accountable for oversight failures.

Acknowledgment of Wrongdoing

One of the officers involved reportedly expressed remorse, acknowledging that he should have been aware of the illegality of online casino gambling in Japan before participating. His statement underscores the contradiction between strict domestic prohibitions and the ease of access to offshore gambling platforms via the internet.

Calls for Stronger Ethical Standards

Koichi Tsuchiyama, head of the police inspection office, described the series of incidents as a serious concern for the force. He noted that the concentration of disciplinary cases within a short timeframe highlighted systemic issues that required corrective action.

Tsuchiyama said the department plans to reinforce ethics training across all ranks to ensure officers fully understand their responsibilities and the importance of upholding the law.

Reinforcing Internal Oversight

The clustering of offenses within a single station and the involvement of officers from various ranks have prompted the Hyogo police to intensify internal oversight. By referring the cases to public prosecutors, the force aims to ensure independent scrutiny while demonstrating a firm stance against misconduct.

Officials said the combination of disciplinary action, external review and enhanced training is intended to restore public trust and reinforce the principle that police officers must adhere to the law they are sworn to enforce.