Japan’s National Police Agency will expand the scope of its anonymous crime reporting system, which includes tips for illegal gambling site operators, from Oct. 1.
The move comes amid the National Police Agency’s strengthening measures against online gambling 온라인바둑이
Police said Tuesday they will raise the maximum reward for anonymous crime reports to 1 million yen ($6,783), up from the current 100,000 yen.
An anonymous crime reporting system was first established in 2007 to cover certain types of crimes. Members of the public can report through telephone hotlines and dedicated websites.
In 2022, the system received more than 27,000 reports, with a total of 45 enforcement actions, including arrests. A total of 530,000 yen was paid out of 11 cases where informants could contact the police, Japanese media Mainichi reported.
The initial focus of the plan was to gather information related to human trafficking and child prostitution. Child abuse, crimes related to gangs, drug and gun cases, and phone fraud were later added to the list.
In addition to online casino operations, another type of crime that will be added to the system from October means the operation of “anonymous and mobile criminal groups.” According to Mainichi, Japanese authorities define them as groups that repeatedly gather and disperse through loose ties through social media.
Japan is currently in the process of getting approval for its first land-based casino project. The final approval of the Osaka-based initiative could be suspended this month, as implied by one of the parties involved, Bill Hornbuckle, chief executive officer and chairman of MGM Resorts International in the United States.
Osaka authorities hope to open a casino and integrated resort in partnership with MGM Resorts and Japan’s Orix Co. in the “fall of 2030.” MGM Resorts described the plan as a “$10 billion” project.