Mie fire lieutenant arrested over alleged habitual gambling on online casinos
In short
Police in Mie Prefecture arrested a 40-year-old fire lieutenant, Yu Shibata, on suspicion of habitual gambling after he allegedly placed more than 3,000 bets on overseas online casino sites over roughly four months from June to October. He admitted the allegations and told investigators he likes gambling and could not stop, according to police. Reports differ on the amounts: one outlet says about 3 million yen was wagered, while others cite account records showing more than 10 million yen over about four years.
Read the full story 1 min read
Police in Mie Prefecture have arrested Yu Shibata, a 40-year-old fire lieutenant at the Mie Kihoku Firefighting Association headquarters, on suspicion of habitual gambling, according to the reports. The three outlets said the suspicion relates to betting on overseas online casino sites. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to police, Shibata connected to overseas online casino sites from Japan over the internet and placed more than 3,000 bets between around June 1 and October 5, 2026. One report said he gambled on games including roulette and wagered about 3 million yen. The reports said he used a smartphone to buy exchangeable points on overseas internet casino sites. [ 1 , 2 ]
Two of the outlets reported a larger figure, saying account records indicated he had wagered more than 10 million yen in total, over a period of about four years. That figure was not given in the other report, which described about 3 million yen in connection with the alleged betting, leaving the overall amount unclear. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The reports said Shibata admitted the allegations. He was quoted as telling investigators there was “no mistake” that he had been using online casinos, and that he “likes gambling and could not stop.” He also said he had been gambling since around four years earlier, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 ]
Two outlets said he may have placed bets during working hours as well, a point they described as under investigation. One report said the suspicion came to light while police were investigating a separate case and analyzed his smartphone. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Police are continuing to investigate on the view that he repeated similar acts, one report said. No other details of the case, including any additional allegations, were given in the documents. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The case involves a public safety employee accused of repeated gambling, including possibly during working hours, which the reports treat as a matter of police investigation. Online casino gambling is the subject of the allegations; the documents do not discuss the legal status of such sites beyond the criminal suspicion. The coverage rests on police statements and one outlet's account-record reporting, so the total amounts remain unconfirmed.
Key facts
- Yu Shibata, 40, a fire lieutenant at the Mie Kihoku Firefighting Association headquarters, was arrested on suspicion of habitual gambling. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police say he connected to overseas online casino sites from Japan via the internet and placed more than 3,000 bets between around June 1 and October 5, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He is alleged to have gambled using roulette and other games on a smartphone. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He admitted the allegations, saying there was “no mistake” he had been using online casinos. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He was quoted as saying he “likes gambling and could not stop.” [ 1 , 2 ]
- One report says he wagered about 3 million yen; others cite account records indicating more than 10 million yen in total since about four years ago. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The suspicion emerged while police were investigating a separate case and analyzed his smartphone. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A 40-year-old fire lieutenant at the Mie Kihoku Firefighting Association was arrested on suspicion of habitual gambling. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police say the alleged gambling took place over roughly four months from around June 1, using a smartphone to reach overseas online casino sites, with more than 3,000 bets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The total amount wagered. Document 1 says he wagered about 3 million yen, while documents 2 and 3 cite account records indicating more than 10 million yen, apparently covering a longer period.
- Whether he gambled during working hours. Documents 2 and 3 say this is a possibility under investigation; no document states it as established.
- The exact start date of the alleged gambling. Document 1 quotes him saying he has gambled since around 2022, while document 2 quotes him saying “since about four years ago”; the documents do not fix a precise date.
- The suspect has admitted the allegations, according to police. Reported by a single source so far
- He told investigators he had been gambling for several years, describing it as starting around four years earlier, or around 2022. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nippon TV News reports the arrest of a Mie Kihoku Firefighting Association fire lieutenant on suspicion of habitual gambling. [ 1 ]
- Livedoor News reports the arrest, citing account records indicating more than 10 million yen wagered and possible betting during work hours. [ 2 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports the arrest, citing a total possibly exceeding 10 million yen over about four years and possible betting during work hours. [ 3 ]