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The director of one of Japan’s national poker associations and the operator of an Osaka gaming facility have been arrested along with eight other organisers and 11 customers in an unusual crackdown on land-based gambling.

Osaka police last Wednesday (May 31) arrested Japan Poker Association director Joji Mikubo and gaming club Gigi Casi operator Yamato Nakai, and eight other men and women, on suspicion of gambling operations at the Gigi Casi facility and the Raise Pokerhouse in Osaka.

Eleven customers were also arrested at the two facilities on the same day, media reports said.

Police accused the lead suspects of organising gambling activity and taking cuts of players’ winnings, possibly directing funds to the non-profit poker association on a regular basis, and alleged that Mikubo had transferred funds to one of the players.

Police also alleged that the transfers were made in the name of “covering player expenses” but that this was meant to conceal gambling revenue.

Mikubo has denied the charges against him, stating that he was unaware that his transfer was related to gambling, local reports said.

Gigi Casi describes itself as “Japan’s largest amusement poker house” on its Twitter account.

The Saitama Shimbun reported last Wednesday that 15 of the suspects had been released from custody, without identifying them.

Joji Mikubo is listed as an “executive trustee” under the name Seiji Mikubo on the Japan Poker Association website.

The Chunichi Shimbun today (June 6) reported that the Japan Poker Association publicly apologised for “causing a scandal and serious problems for some of our member locations”.

Poker tournament prizes in Japan have soared with an increase in participation, the report said, citing ¥200,000 to ¥300,000 entry fees and ¥25m in prize money for individual tournaments.

Boasting 30 member locations around Japan, the Japan Poker Association calls itself the “only government-recognised organisation for poker” and says it is “authorised” by Japan’s Cabinet Office.

“The purpose of the organisation is to widely spread the game of poker into Japanese culture, and to become a route for Japanese players to play in events abroad,” the website says.

“Although it is illegal to gamble in Japan, we hold many tournaments that act as satellites to tournaments outside of Japan,” it says.