TOKYO, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Japanese police have identified a record 279 people using online casinos in 2024, more than twice the number a year earlier, according to the National Police Agency (NPA).

According to a preliminary investigation, police nationwide have identified 162 individuals gambling on online casinos and 117 dealers, both record high numbers since 2018 when police began keeping such statistics.

However, the data represents "only a small fraction of the real figure," with the number of online casino gamblers estimated at 3 million, Kyodo News reported Saturday, citing an investigative source.

Gambling is illegal in Japan even if an online casino is operating legally overseas. It is believed that many of the people are unaware that using the service is illegal in the country, the report said.

Of the accused, 80 percent, or 227, gambled on their smartphones, visiting virtual casinos via their personal electronic devices rather than illegal establishments that provide computer access, according to the NPA.

In Japan, individuals face fines of up to 500,000 yen (about 3,282 U.S. dollars) for gambling. Those who habitually gamble could be punished with prison terms of up to three years. Enditem

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