Japanese authorities confiscate luxury property tied to Curaçao casino profits
Lina Almans
05 September 2025
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A Japanese court has ordered the confiscation of a luxury apartment in Tokyo worth more than $662,000. According to Asahi Shimbun, the property’s owner is accused of collaborating with an illegal online casino operating in the country.
Police said that 42-year-old Yoshinori Kurata purchased the residence with funds obtained from a gambling company registered in Curaçao, where he coordinated financial flows. Investigators note that about 70% of online casinos targeting Japanese players are based on the island. This suggests that Kurata may have been involved in unlawful activity within Japan, where online gambling is classified as a criminal offense.
Authorities also believe that the casino where Kurata worked is connected to the “tokuryu” — new criminal groups that emerged as an alternative to the yakuza. On this basis, he has been charged with participation in organized crime.
If found guilty, Kurata will permanently lose ownership of the high-value apartment, which will be transferred to the state.
Earlier, Gambling Park reported that Japanese authorities had approached Curaçao and Malta with requests to restrict online casino access for Japanese players.
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