Tim Alper is a journalist who covers betting news and regulation for CasinoBeats. He joined the CasinoBeats team in May 2025. He reports on breaking news and developments in the world of betting, casinos, and...
Read Full BioPolice in Japan have partnered with the makers of the video game Street Fighter 6 as part of an anti-online gambling and anti-fraud drive.
The Japanese media outlet Games Hub reported that the initiative is the brainchild of the Osaka Prefectural Police.
The police force has been waging war on online gambling in recent months following an uptick in illegal betting-related crime.
Street Fighter 6 Awareness Campaign
Last month, officers in the province arrested three people on suspicion of laundering funds for online casino operators.
Officers have also been fighting back against investment and gambling-related fraud operations.
However, Osaka police think that a partnership with Capcom, the maker of the Street Fighter series game, will help raise awareness of the dangers of online fraud and illegal betting operators.
The Osaka Prefectural Police uploaded a promotional video to its official channel earlier this month as part of its campaign.
The video features appearances from Street Fighter series characters such as Ken Masters. The latter interacts with a man who has succumbed to risking his money after receiving promises about “guaranteed” profits from the makers of a Ken-themed app.
“Everyone seems to be making money,” the man says, before adding, “I am going to give it a try, too.”
But the man soon finds that he is unable to withdraw his winnings from the app and fears he may have fallen victim to a scam.
He then asks Ken about the app. At this point, Ken says he has never heard of this app, but vows to bring its operators to justice.
Osaka Police Partner With Top E-Sports Franchise
Police officials have also teamed up with local e-sports players as part of their drive. Last week, two members of the CAG Osaka e-sports franchise joined police officers on stage at an event in a shopping mall.
The players voiced their support for the campaign and played live bouts of Street Fighter 6 in a specially arranged exhibition match.
The Japanese game developer Capcom released its first Street Fighter title in 1987, following up with the international arcade smash hit Street Fighter II in 1991.
It unveiled Street Fighter 6, developed for PCs, PlayStation, and Xbox, in June 2023.
The media outlet noted that the prefectural police has maintained an “unexpectedly” close relationship with the Osaka-based Capcom for over a decade.
The parties also collaborated on an anti-vandalism drive in 2013. And in 2019, the force used images of characters such as Ryu, E. Honda, and Chun Li in a recruiting drive for cybercrime officers.
The outlet concluded that the new collaboration would likely have a “favorable impact, especially on younger residents.”
Earlier this month, a court in Yamanashi began the trial of a former tax officer accused of embezzling public funds.
Prosecutors think the man stole money from a tax revenue fund to spend on online casinos, sports betting, and pachinko machines.
