Japanese Shinto Priest Admits to Losing ‘Donation-Investments’ on Online Baccarat Games

Japanese police say that a Shinto priest has confessed to spending donations and illegal community “investments” at illegal online casinos.

The Japanese newspaper Yoimiuri Shimbun reported that the Shiga Prefectural Police Department has charged an unnamed 64-year-old man with gambling-related crimes.

Gambling on online casino platforms from Japanese territory is a criminal offense. Under new laws, courts will soon have the power to jail habitual gamblers.

A Shiga police spokesperson said that officers have handed the case over to Shiga’s prosecution service, which will now decide whether it wants to indict the priest.

Shinto Priest Lost 80%-90% of Misappropriated Funds

The unnamed priest, police said, hails from Chuo Ward, Hamamatsu, and has previously been charged with offenses such as violations of Japan’s Investment Law.

Officers said they had evidence the priest had gambled on online casino platforms “using cash illegally collected from an unspecified number of people.”

The priest appears to have offered these individuals investment opportunities, although he noted that some of the money raised also came in the form of donations.

Police said the priest has admitted to the charges, stating that he “liked gambling” and embezzled the cash as he was “short of money.”

Police said the man placed scores of bets on baccarat games between January and May 2023. The man, officers believe, used approximately 5 million yen ($33,860) of other people’s money to place the bets. He confessed to “losing 80% to 90%” of all the bets he placed, the spokesperson said.

Priest Said Donations Could Be Deducted From Tax Returns

The Shiga police force has also charged the man on suspicion of violating the Organized Crime Punishment Act. The act has clauses that pertain to the concealment of criminal proceeds.

Officers think he illegally raised a total of approximately 42 million yen (over $284,000) from at least five men and women “under the guise of investments.”

Police said the priest then created receipts and other documents designed to make the money appear to be donations to religious organizations. He told investors that their “donations” would allow them to deduct money from their annual tax returns, police concluded.

Earlier this month, police in Amori Prefecture charged a sergeant in their own force with habitual gambling on online slots and baccarat.

The unnamed officer, aged in his 30s, reportedly placed several bets using his smartphone during work hours.

The sergeant has also allegedly made a full confession to prosecution officials and stepped down from his post, adding that he was “sorry” for his behavior.