TOKYO -- The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent documents on six male entertainers from talent agency Yoshimoto Kogyo Co. to prosecutors on April 3 for allegedly gambling on online casinos, sources close to the investigation have revealed. All of them have reportedly admitted to the allegations.

According to the sources, the following six people were referred to prosecutors on suspicion of gambling: Dai Yoshimoto, 40, of the comedy duo Daitaku; Shun Nakamura, 31, of the comedy duo Kyubangai Retoro; Yuichi Ohara, 35, of the comedy duo Dambiramuucho; Ryudai, 31, and Saikyo no Shoda, 35, both of the comedy duo Purizun Kuizu Channeru; and Hayate Sasamoto, 33, of the comedy duo Neichaa Baagaa.

The six comedians are specifically accused of using smartphones and computers to access online casino sites including "Sportsbet.io" and engage in games such as baccarat between around Jan. 20, 2023, and Dec. 29, 2024.

The MPD revealed that among the six, one individual had deposited about 51 million yen (roughly $345,000), resulting in an overall loss of approximately 12 million yen (about $81,300). Yoshimoto, a member of Daitaku, reportedly told investigators, "I became interested around 2022. I would gamble while commuting to work or on my downtime, and when I was hooked, I did it almost daily."

"Sportsbet.io" is a site licensed in Curacao, a Dutch territory in Central America. Gambling on online casinos from within Japan is illegal even if those websites are overseas.

The gambling allegations surfaced from a third-party tip-off to Yoshimoto Kogyo. Since February, the MPD has conducted voluntary interviews with nearly 10 entertainers suspected of involvement to determine the timing and frequency of their gambling activities.

(Japanese original by Ran Kanno, Tokyo City News Department)